A/N: Yes I finally updated! I've been stumped on my Pirates story which has affected the rest of my writing. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter but I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Chapter 7: His Girl


Ginny felt the air leave her lungs as she hit Malfoy's solid chest in mid-air, his warm arms going around her instantly. "Hold on, Weasley. Just breathe. I've got you." He panted in her ear as he shifted her a bit to steady his broom. Fighting for consciousness, she felt her head loll back against his shoulder. "Come on, stay with me. We're almost to the ground."

The urgency in his voice snapped her back to attention. Malfoy was never concerned about anything. It must be pretty terrifying to be on his end of this. She nuzzled his neck a bit in sympathy, trying not to think about her throbbing appendage.

"Hurts bad…" She muttered through gritted teeth as her breathing calmed.

"I know. That was a nasty hit." He murmured sympathetically. "But I've got you."

They landed then and she groaned in pain when he dismounted, unintentionally jostling her.

Draco paused for a second, looking down at her in concern. "All right, Weasley?" He reached up to push her hair back from her face and she let out a soft sigh, burrowing into his shoulder a bit. The rough material of his Quidditch uniform and the warm muscle beneath was soothing, but the moment was short-lived.

"Oh hell." He muttered, scooping her up more firmly into his arms. "Scarhead and Weasel are headed this way."

"Who?" She muttered distractedly.

"Well don't just stand there, Mr. Malfoy. Take her to the Hospital Wing!" Madam Hooch bellowed across the field.

Ginny snorted at the rather nasty names he had for the teacher that he was spitting under his breath and wrapped her good arm around his neck as he carried her to the school. "Thanks for catching me." She murmured awkwardly.

"Yeah well…you owe me. I lost the snitch for this little stunt, you know."

"You mean Gryffindor won?"

He sighed. "Yes, Gryffindor won. And I don't want to hear another bloody word about it."

A laugh escaped her lips, and then a wince. "Merlin, that hurts." She hissed, burying her face in the crook of his neck and gritting her teeth.

"Sorry." His voice was so soft. She thought about the way he'd kissed her that morning and frowned. "Why'd you save me anyway?"

"It's not like Potter noticed." She knew it was the only answer she'd get, but it didn't stop the disappointed 'oh.'

DGDGDGDGDG

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER?" A voice bellowed, just as they reached the front doors and Ginny sighed.

Ron was racing along behind them, Hermione and Harry hot on his heels.

Draco refused to stop walking. So Ginny turned her head a bit. "He didn't do anything, but save me from falling to my death, Ronald."

"That's what he wants you to believe." Harry supplied. "He probably paid Goyle to do it so he could be a hero."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Right, Potter. I seduce all the girls by nearly killing them and risking my neck to save them."

"See he admits to it!" Ron exclaimed triumphantly.

Hermione huffed. "He was being sarcastic, Ronald."

"And anyway, someone had to save her. You were more concerned with winning than rescuing your girl." The anger in Malfoy's voice made her stomach flutter a bit. She wanted to tell him that it was a good thing she was his girl instead of Harry's or she'd be splattered on the Quidditch pitch right about now. She settled for murmuring in Draco's ear, "I'm not his girl obviously."

Malfoy glanced at her briefly in surprise but didn't stop walking.

Guilt flickered in the dark haired boy's eyes, but was quickly replaced with anger. "Well if you weren't always staring at her all the time you wouldn't have known she was hurt either!" Harry replied.

"Well we all know he only stares so he can get information for his father anyway." Ron threw in.

Draco stiffened around her. That one had really been uncalled for. Ginny winced. "Weasley and I have already had this conversation. I'm not a Death Eater and it's not a crime to stare at a pretty girl."

"It's not a crime but it's creepy." Harry supplied.

A smirk slid across his face as he glanced down at her. "It's not creepy if the pretty girl doesn't protest."

"WHY YOU-" Ron started turning purple.

"Would you all SHUT IT! If he wants to stare at me, he's more than welcome to, especially after today. If he wants my attention, he knows he wouldn't have to hurt me to get it!" She screeched. The whole situation was giving her a migraine on top of a most likely shattered arm. The three backed off at her words, glancing at each other in confusion.

An uncharacteristically quiet Hermione opened the door for them as they reached their destination. While the others went to find Madam Pomfrey, Malfoy made a beeline for the infirmary beds and gently settled her on one. She was reluctant to let him go and slid her good hand down his chest to link with his hand. He swallowed hard and awkwardly patted her knuckles, just as Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson burst into the room.

"We came as soon as we could!" Pansy exclaimed, looking worried.

"Are you all right?" Blaise asked, immediately taking note of the way the two were holding hands.

"Hurting, but thanks to Malfoy here, I'll be fine." She murmured, trying to smile through the pain and failing miserably.

The Golden Trio came out at this point, staring suspiciously at the three Slytherins. Madam Pomfrey bustled out right after them and Draco released Ginny's hand reluctantly to allow the woman access to her arm.

She tried to put on a brave front and refused to take any potions but the instant the older woman touched Ginny's bad arm she was out like a light.

DGDGDGDGDG


Later that night, she woke to find that her shoulder wasn't hurting as bad and there was a warm hand stroking over the bruised area gently. Blinking a couple of times she opened her eyes and looked directly into a pair of gray-blue ones. "Malfoy."

He studied her cautiously. "How's the shoulder?"

"Still hurts, but not as bad as before. Don't stop that though. It feels amazing."

"Why didn't you take Madam Pomfrey's potion to help with the pain?" His concern was endearing.

"I'm perfectly capable of dealing with it on my own, Ferret." She snapped. His concern was also annoying.

A smirk flickered at the corner of his mouth. "You're starting to sound like yourself again. I think it's time I went back to my dorm."

Panic flared inside her. "Oh that's rubbish! Stay."

His eyebrows shot up. "You want me to stay?"

She blushed and looked away. "Yes."

They sat in silence, staring at anything and everything except each other…that is…until Ginny realized how cold she was and shivered.

Draco was immediately attentive. "Cold?"

She nodded slightly.

Surprising the both of them, he grabbed an extra blanket from a nearby empty bed and added it on top of her other one, giving her good arm an awkward pat like he did her knuckles earlier.

Reaching up, she grasped his hand. They were both full of surprises. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Draco stared at her for a long time before whispering his answer. "Because I was out of my mind with worry about you."

She smiled drowsily feeling her sleepiness come back to her now that she was warming up. As she drifted off, she could have sworn he kissed the top of her head.

DGDGDGDGDG


She awoke the next morning to a gentle hand stroking her face and opened her eyes with a smile, expecting her rescuer again. Instead, she found Seamus Finnigan and no one else. "I'm sorry, love."

Ginny cleared her throat. "It certainly wasn't your fault, Seamus."

He sighed. "Not about that…"

"Oh."

"I wanted to apologize for annoying you with my pathetic attempts at flattery. I knew you didn't care for me that way, but I simply couldn't help myself, especially with that Malfoy sniffing around. If you don't want to be friends anymore I certainly understand." He murmured, his hand going to his still bruised eye.

She studied him for a long time. "It's all right, Seamus. Of course we can still be friends, but I just want some space, and the constant flirting, whether you fancy me or not, must stop."

"Agreed." He answered with a nod.

"Also, you deserved the shiner from him. It was pretty rotten what you said about me."

He gasped. "Malfoy told you?"

"No. I was just around the corner."

He looked down guiltily. "I was angry."

"What time is it?" She asked, wanting to change the subject.

Seamus looked a bit sheepish. "Six."

Her eyes widened. "Merlin…Would you mind too terribly if I went back to sleep for a while?"

"Of course not, love. I'll just be leaving now. Ron, Harry, and Hermione should be up in a few hours."

She was already dozing before he finished his sentence.

DGDGDGDGDGDG


A while later, she awoke again to sunlight pouring down upon her face and groaned. Any minute now, she'd have to deal with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and she wasn't looking forward to it now that she couldn't feign incoherency like she did before. The doors swung open. "Ginny?" Yep. That was definitely Ron.

She merely groaned and put her good arm over her face in exasperation.

"Ginny. We know you're awake." Hermione scolded.

"Oh lay off her 'Mione." Harry's voice this time.

"What time is it?" Ginny croaked instead.

"It's nearly lunchtime, love." Ron commented coming to her bedside.

"How's the shoulder?" Harry questioned, sounding concerned.

She finally removed her arm and looked up at Harry. "It's been better…. Harry…I don't blame you. Malfoy saved me so it's quite all right. Don't look at me like that."

He opened his mouth to begin a tirade about himself, but Hermione interrupted him. "Madam Pomfrey checked you over while you were asleep. She says you're free to go, but if we're going to get to the Great Hall before lunch ends we need to hurry. I've brought you clothes."

Ginny smiled at the bossy girl. "What would I do without you, 'Mione?"

"You'd be stuck with these two oafs." She replied.

"Hey!" The boys shouted in unison as the two girls giggled.

DGDGDGDGDGDG