Four

Don't you get it yet? I would have. I would have died. To save you from him.

Ginny turned her eyes on the darkness once more and reached out a hand. Nothingness greeted her and her eyes widened. She ran her hands over her face and through her hair. Her fingers touched her neck and she felt the warm wet imprints on her flesh. So he was real? Her eyes lingered on the open window on the other side of the room. Had he heard someone and been stupid enough to jump?

"Thought I left" His voice startled her as she was pulled to him once more. She settled comfortingly back against him.

"You never told me why you're here."

"Not yet. I just want" she could hear him struggling for words. "I just want to remember this. It's been so long since I've felt so happy."

"I thought you married Millicent"

"I did to some extent" he sighed and buried his face in the crook of her neck suddenly. "I thought I loved her, I really did. But somewhere along the line, I realized that I felt more for you then ever and I had to come back, to see if you still..."

"If I still what, Draco" Ginny whispered and turned so she could finally feel his shallow breath on her face.

"If you still..."

"Loved you? I always have. I knew you'd come back, I just knew it" He hadn't expected to be knocked sideways by her rib-crushing hug. The truth was that Ginny had hid her thoughts from everyone for three long, agonizing years.

"That's good. Ouch-err what do we tell everyone" He sucked in a whimper and held her away from him. Even now her beauty captured his senses and he found himself falling in love all over again.

"How about the truth for once? They'll be shocked enough when you've finally resurfaced and even more so when they realize that they have been wrong this whole time."

"Who" Draco interjected mildly.

"Severus seems to think you fooled us all that day."

It was the end. So much had happened, so many people had already suffered enough. But still his deed was not done. He stepped out onto the blood-bated graveyard and raised his wand. He shouted the spell and shot it towards her; she sunk to her knees and screamed her throat raw as he muttered about betrayal and left her to die. He saw Marcus Flint going down in his efforts to protect Katie Bell. His lips curled as both lay still, arms wrapped around each other in a silent embrace. He then heard his father's voice ride over Blaise Zabini's scream and then a horrid silence followed.

"Stay back" someone shouted and another screamed. He cringed when his eyes locked with hers. She was standing over Lavender Brown but her eyes were on him. He wanted to suddenly strike his father down and limp to her side. Some bastard had shoved him and he twisted his ankle. He took two steps before his father shot a spell towards Ginny. His mouth opened but nothing came out.

"You know that I never wanted this. I'm sorry every day for what I did, what I could have stopped, who are hurt and killed with my selfishness." He stood abruptly pushed his long blonde hair away from his eyes and stared at her; ashen complexion looked as drawn and as tired as someone who had suffered as much as he had.

"What do you want" She touched his hand.

"I want to take you away from here."

"What" He muttered something under his breath and looked at the floor. "Draco"

"There was another reason I came back hoping to find you. I want..." he shut his eyes and she touched his cheek. "I came back for you. I came back in hopes that you would marry me."