font face"Times New Roman" color"#000000" /font
b Sunshine and Shadows- Chapter 9 /b
b The Morning Star /b

The gentle shifting of the mattress beneath her had started the wake-up process. When Severus had risen, he caused Ginny to roll slightly to her back, freeing her from the black void of dreamless sleep to the gray fog of a light doze. She floated on a mist of warmth and comfort, the occasional errant breeze kissing her nose with chill lips and breathing the morning aromas of dew, grass, and loam. Ginny grinned in her half sleeping state and wriggled deeper into the blankets. She stretched and sighed as the cotton sheets shifted over her legs like warm milk and the mellow tones of Severus and Draco's voices drifted to her ears. It was as if she listened to a pair of finely crafted cellos, played by masterly hands, their harmonies rising and falling, breaking apart and then rejoining, the lyrics having no meaning for her at the moment as she was lost in the music.

Behind her closed lids, the gray fog melted away and was replaced by the rose tinted, yellow gleam of morning sunlight. The wizards' conversation was becoming more distinct now, and Ginny stretched mightily, knowing she should rise, so it took her a second before she realized that i she /i was the topic of discussion. Coming from a litter that prided itself on subterfuge, Ginny snuggled the thick duvet to her chin and listened intently.

She silently cheered, her face filling up with a smug grin, as Severus took Draco to task for placing her in such danger, but she instantly sobered when Draco murmured his sincere agreement. As he continued, Ginny experienced a melting sensation in her lower belly, and the tenderness she felt towards the former Slytherin from the previous evening returned in full.

"Do you blame me for wanting something sweet, for grasping this one, pure moment to sustain me for the rest of my life?" Draco's voice was filled with hunger, and Ginny surprised herself by sighing at the sound.

"If I could just have had her good will, have had her think of me with some degree of kindness, it would have fed my heart for a long, long time. I have ruined that now, I suppose."

i No! /i Ginny argued internally. i I will let you make it up to me! /i She pushed the pillow's fluffy edge from around her ear and strained to hear Severus' response.

"If you wish to raise yourself in Miss Weasley's eye, what better course than to rid yourself of Parkinson, i Yes! /i declare yourself a supporter of Dumbledore, i Yes, Yes! /i and tell your bastard father to go to hell dragging his monster lord with him." i YES, oh YES! /i

Her bubble of elation popped when Draco responded in hot anger. "I cannot do that Severus! I fully intend to survive this war, and I cannot do that by declaring sides. I will bring the House of Malfoy back from ruin, and I need Pansy's fortune to succeed. If Father had only exercised some caution when flinging his gold at Voldie's, feet I might not need to bed the bitch to gain the Galleons."

Ginny frowned. She never figured Draco for a fence percher and was disappointed to hear him take, to her way of thinking, such a cowardly position. She could almost pity Pansy, being locked into a loveless union based on monetary need.

Almost.

Perhaps she could talk to Draco and help him see reason. If he cared for her as much as he let on, then maybe he would listen to her, be swayed by her rational, yet sweet, pleading. With a little time, she, Ginny Weasley, would lead a willing Draco Malfoy to the Light.

Yea, RIGHT! Ginny scoffed at her nonsensical meanderings. This was the wizard who was willing to prostitute his life, she reminded herself. Surely his situation wasn't that severe. The idea of a Malfoy needing cash was as foreign to Ginny as walking on the moon, and it jarred the witch's reality. She couldn't picture Lucius and Narcissa in a small flat on Diagon Alley or clipping coupons from the Daily Prophet. It was like putting a diamond in a setting made of clay. The two would not merge, and it forced home the vast expanse between Draco's world and her own. There is nothing wrong in being poor, Ginny's middle class heart cried. It just means you have to work harder for what you really want and once you have the prize, treasure it all the more. Draco wasn't stupid. He could get a job. Surely he wasn't totally lacking in employment potential. She would just have to talk to him, that was all. They could work this out together.

Of course they could.

The men had grown quiet, and Ginny could hear the clatter of utensils on china and smell the delightful aroma of coffee. No time like the present to begin Operation Redeem Draco. She pushed the covers from her body and sat on the edge of the mattress.

"He truly raped her?" Severus was asking.

Ginny inhaled for a jaw-cracking yawn, then froze as the words began to register on her sleep tousled brain.

"Yes."

"The entity Miss Weasley encountered in the Chamber of Secrets was the memory of Tom Riddle's sixteen-year-old self, not the actual, physical person. I He /I could have not truly been there in solid, physical form. I, or Albus, would have sensed him." Ginny heard the doubt plaguing her long-time friend and protector.

"He was solid enough to take Potter's wand, Severus." There was a pause before Draco continued. P FONT size+1 "Like you, I had my sources. I gained more information walking the corridors of Hogwart's than I ever learned in any classroom. Yours being the exception, of course. He was real enough to... do her damage. I could feel him on her and," again, Draco paused, and Ginny felt her skin burn in shame and horror, "in her. She fought! Oh gods, she fought. But she was too small. Damn him to dust, she was just a kid! A baby! How could anyone..."

Ginny longed to curl up once more upon the bed and cradle the wound of pain and tension that expanded in her gut,rolling around inside her like a heated iron ball, but rising anger held her rigid. She knew she had experienced her reoccurring nightmare. Its appearance in her nighttime vision was a common enough event for the young witch, and she had learned early on how best to handle the morning fallout left by the dream, but this...

This was beyond absorbing.

Malfoy! Like a blind, stupid fool, she had trusted him! Trusted him to point of asking him to sleep in her room, looking for him to protect her! The blow of betrayal was acute and deep. She snorted, attempting to banish the ache in her throat that threatened tears. He must have entered her dream using Legilimency, the arrogant bastard! He had viewed her most shameful secret and obviously had no remorse about sharing the news. Ginny dug her fingers into the sheeting, her breathing coming fast and hard. After all her hard work... attempting to place the horror in the past where it belonged... forcing herself to be gay and open when all she had wanted to do was crawl into some dark corner and die!

She had never admitted to anything other than her abduction to the Chamber. Her child's voice had responded with a polite, "Nothing," each time an adult had questioned her about Tom's actions towards her while she had been held as a hostage for Harry. When asked about the scored and bloody condition of her body, she had replied with widely innocent eyes and a whispered, "I don't remember." She fought them violently when the mediwitch attempted to exam her farther, until even her mother, Molly, had joined the bobbing heads that mouthed words of support, i Should you ever want to talk about it, dear, /i and with tsking tongues, had allowed her to be sucked once more into the general population.

For months afterward, her abduction and wounds became like the proverbial Mountain Troll at the tea party, acknowledged but then tactfully ignored. The marks on her body had screamed volumes, but the adults around her had been more than happy to turn a blind eye to the terrifyingly sick evidence, and allow Ginny's silence to become the shaky foundation upon which they constructed their truth. It was to their comfortable truth that Ginny had clung desperately as the months passed and she hoped that her schoolmates would be as willfully blind and dumb as the adults in her world. However, the students had descended upon the tiny Gryffindor like a massive cloud of locust, their twisted faces winking slyly about things their young minds could barely identify much less comprehend, and their grating, vicious voices dissected her sins, keeping her awake at night. When she tried, in her growing loneliness, to reach out to individual members of the swarm, they would rattle their wings, flitting quickly away, so as not to be contaminated by her touch. Girls who had previously shared their work benches, their Ice Mice, and their smiles, turned their faces or packed up books and quills at her approach. Ginny had loosely attached herself to the outer orbit of the triple suns that were Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and teachers and staff watched with ineffectual concern as the youngest Weasley seemed to vanish within the blinding glare that was the Golden Trio.

It had all been for nothing! Her shame, her weakness, and failure had been discovered, and no doubt, would soon be all over the wizarding world. Ginny felt as if her head would explode. Well, he may have some juicy gossip to spread, but she fully intended to make him pay for the knowledge. Rising, the witch pulled the robe from the foot of the bed and thrusting her arms through the sleeves, padded on silent feet to the balcony doors. Severus was speaking, and Ginny allowed his mellow voice to sooth her tattered nerves as she listened and remembered.

Severus Snape. Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House. The Practitioner of All Things Cruel, Evil Bat, Greasy Git, Hooked Nosed Horror of the Dungeons and Former Death Eater, he had been the only grown-up who had understood the shattered little girl she had been. He had risked a great deal more than his position as an instructor by coming to her hospital bed that night. It had been his quiet, calm presence, as he shared his own disillusionment and pain, that had pried young Ginny's anguish from her fingers, letting it go for the first of many times. Severus, who had actually meant it when he promised to be there for her should the need ever arise. Severus, who had held her while she cried over adult problems that tarnished her child's world. Severus, who never pried, poked or pitied, but taught her to stand once more and move forward.

"Did you ever approach her again?" Draco asked, sounding a bit too accusing for Ginny's taste. She watched Snape's black head rear back as if from a blow and the look of shocked pain that flicked briefly across his sharp features. She felt the sting for him.

Before he could respond, Ginny spoke out firmly, "No, he did not. But he let me sleep in his chambers nearly every night of my third year." The wizards rose politely at her appearance. Barely taking time to draw a breath, she strode across the stones, putting every ounce of power and muscle she possessed into her swing. Her fist connected quite nicely with Draco's nose, sending him backwards onto the breakfast laden table. Pain blossomed through Ginny's hand, and she shook the abused appendage as she glared down at her foe.

"YOU!" she snarled, "are a sneaking, nosy low-life!" As if spotting the Potions Master for the first time, her face broke into a sunny smile. "Hello, Severus! Have you more of this breakfast? I am famished."

"Of course, Miss Weasley," Severus replied with a thin smile. "Leo!"

The table beneath Draco's sprawled carcass was instantly and magically cleared. Broken china, scraps of food, spilled coffee and blood vanished in a flash. He lay supine, staring up at the bluebird sky, wearing a dazed expression. The table suddenly released a metallic groan, bent its rust spotted legs and, bucking like a wild colt, sent Draco flying. He skidded over the stones and came to a stop near a massive clay urn. He struggled to his feet, glaring at his attacker and protesting loudly. "Not all of this is my bloody fault, you know!" The silver haired wizard rearranged the twisted state of his dressing gown. "Bugger this!" He snarled, wiping at the blood streaming from his abused nose.

Ginny was on him like a flame- haired Cornish Pixie. "Bugger YOU!" she bellowed, poking at his exposed chest with a scarlet tipped finger. "What gave you the right to come into u my /u head, i POKE /i "to see i my /i secrets?" i POKE-POKE /i . Her freckles vanished as her face flashed puce with rage. "What are you going to do now, sell the story to the highest bidder?

Draco erred when he rolled his eyes at the lunacy of her question. Ginny spiked her claws into the silky strands at the wizard's temple and pulled. Draco feared for his safety as her eyes glowed with a killing fire. Latching his fingers about her wrists, he attempted to prevent the removal of his sideburns as the demented witch snatched his head side to side.

"Let go!" He hassled, nearly breathless with the agony sparking from his temples.

"No!" She replied with a pant. "I am going to beat the memory out of your damn skull! I am going to smash it on the stones and then scour it off with soap and water!" Ginny sobbed as she attempted to hammer Draco's head against the wall. "I will make sure no one will ever hear about it from you!"

"Ow, let go and let's talk about this. OW! Damn it, Ginny! I said, let go." Pain blurred his eyes with water and Draco went on instinct, hoping he was correct. He released one of Ginny's hands and immediately grasped a free swaying breast, his forefinger and thumb clamping down on a firm nipple.

The witch squealed like a trapped piglet.

"Release me!" Draco demanded, giving the pointed flesh a wicked twist.

"NO!" Ginny arched her back, attempting to snatch her abused breast from the hateful vice of his fingers, but Draco followed the movement of her body, denying escape. The pair staggered across the balcony in a weird, jerking dance, both of their faces a study in pain and determination. Severus observed the contortions of the pair with morbid fascination. The Potions Master had witnessed passion and anger in their many forms, but he had never before seen such dogged tenacity in gaining the upper hand. He considered coming between the two but cherished his current state of health. He decided it was best to allow the children to work through their differences.

Ginny attempted to bite the hand that tormented her, but Draco saw the flash of teeth and gave her nipple a vicious tweak. She responded with by twirling the short hairs at his temple around her forefingers and thumb, pulling.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Their duet of pain sizzled on the morning air. Finally, Ginny, her eyes blurred with tears, gasped, "Ok, I give! Let go!"

"No!" Draco was quick to snap. "Do I appear stupid? You grabbed first, you let go first!"

They swayed where they stood, hunched over at their waists, eyes and hands locked in mortal combat. "How do I know," Ginny panted, "if I let go, you will too?"

"You are just going to have to trust me!" Draco ground out through barred teeth, causing the witch to roll her eyes.

"That's what got me into this mess to start with!" she replied heatedly.

"Look," the wizard moaned, "we can argue that point later. Are you going to release me or not?"

As Snape sipped his coffee, they stared menacingly at each other, measuring, unsure of what to expect.

"Hell!" Ginny yelled. "Ok, we do it together, alright?"

"Together?" Draco pressed.

"Yesssssssssss!" she hissed in pain and frustrated rage, "On three."

"On three," the hunkered wizard insisted.

"One!" Ginny began.

"Two-three!" Draco finished, releasing her breast as her fingers evaporated from his hair. They sprang from each other like equal magnetic poles to stand panting and rubbing their abused parts. Ginny hastily ceased the massaging of her throbbing nipple as she caught Severus' eye across the narrow expanse of stone. Her cheeks burned even hotter as she turned once more on her prey.

Pointing a red nailed finger to Malfoy, she accused him in a hard tone, "You used i Legilimency /i on me."

Draco was staring, aghast, at the strands of silver hair that lay in his palm. i The witch nearly scalped me! /i Her words penetrated his thoughts, and he transferred his shocked gaze to Ginny as she stood trembling with rage. "Yes, I did, but if you will let me..."

"You entered where you weren't welcome! You took what wasn't offered!" Her shrill voice cracked from the strain, and the last came from her lips in a wet whisper. "You are no better than Tom."

Malfoy's cheeks blazed, and the thunderhead grey of his eyes flashed with dangerous heat. He struck with the speed of a summer storm, his index finger jabbing between Ginny's cotton veiled breasts. "I am u nothing /u like that monster!" His voice exploded against the witch's flushed cheeks like thunder, and she staggered slightly away from his wrath. Drawing new air, he continued, "How dare you? I was trying to help, you shrieking harpy!"

"I don't remember asking for your bloody help!" Ginny screeched, causing Severus, who was inspecting the witch's freshly summoned meal, to wince in pain.

"You would not ask for help if your i b bloody arse was on fire /b /i !" Draco howled, waving his arms like wind tossed-branches.

"Well, I damn sure wouldn't be asking YOU!" she roared in quick response.

"Hell, as dense as you are, you would not even notice the flames until you were charred beyond recognition!" the wizard spat, quite pleased with his choice of words.

"Are you calling me stupid?" Ginny reared back, eyes wide.

"The word I used was 'dense', but 'stupid' could be easily inserted into the sentence without damaging the integrity of the message," Draco quipped.

Ginny folded her arms over her chest before launching her response. "Ok, Mr Hero, what sort of help," she spat the word with such venom Draco was surprised it did not sizzle upon the stones, "was your mind rape supposed to provide? Hmmm?" Her face continued to be stony but her brown eyes brimmed with tears.

Once more Draco howled in frustrated anger, "I did NOT rape you!"

"I'm the victim here, and it sure felt like rape to me," Ginny paused for emphasis, "And I would know."

Draco was panting from the emotional sprints he had endured, and he glared hard at the red-headed witch. "Ok Weasley, you want to know what I hoped to accomplish? How does vengeance sound to you?" At her startled look, he continued, "I told you once before that if you would only tell me who hurt you, I would hunt him down and kill him. Just for you, Ginny." He paused, sagging against the cool stone wall, his head resting on its rough surface. "I hoped I would see the face of your attacker. I hoped to avenge you."

Ginny flapped her hand in a dismissive gesture, her features as hard as the rock where Draco rested. "Then why are you still here? You know who he is. He still lives. Why haven't you just popped over to his place and blasted him into the dirt?"

When the wizard declined to respond, merely dropped his eyes from her probing gaze, she gasped in mocking dismay, one pale hand fluttering to her chest. "Why, could it be you don't know where he lives?" Ginny practically apparated to the spot below Draco's blood-encrusted nose, so quickly did she dissolve the distance between the pair. "Couldn't you just i b ask your daddy? /b /i " She snarled viciously. "Or, maaaaaybe, it could be you are afraid? Wouldn't look too good on your resume. 'Reason for leaving last position- Blew up boss.' "

"You are a nasty bitch, Weasley, you know that?"

"Yeah!" Ginny hollered, "I've been practicing!"

"I should have just let Professor Snape take you last night. THAT would not have been anything new for you, I am sure." He added under his breath.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" She growled.

"I think you know," Draco drawled, but seeing her raised fists, jumped back, his own hands up to block any possible attack. "And don't go hitting me again!"

"YOU are a total wanker, Draco Malfoy! Severus has nothing to do with this." Ginny declared hotly.

One platinum brow arched meanly. "Oh, so it is Severus, is it?" His lip curled into a nasty smirk.

Ginny's brow cinched tightly, and she advanced on the grinning Slytherin, ignoring the brief flash of hurt and jealousy that showed in the silver eyes as the words flew from his lips, "Yes, he is Severus to me. Has been for years. Isn't that so, Severus?"

"My dog is not in this fight, Miss Weasley," the dark wizard replied in his usual dry tone. "but do feel free to carry on without my input."

"Quite true." Ginny agreed, focusing once more on her blond nemesis. "Stop trying to drag Severus into this," She snapped.

"I am not the one talking to the man!" Draco growled in frustration. Alarmed by the shrillness of his own voice, he raked a blood smeared hand through his hair. Gods, the witch was making him loose his mind.

"Yes, but you were trying to change the subject."

Draco wanted to scream! Instead, he pushed his face closer and growled in frustration, "Was there b E /b -ver a freaking subject?"

Ginny snorted hotly and planted her fists firmly on her narrow hips.

i She is going Molly! /i Snape noticed and wisely put more distance between himself and the fighting couple. Pouring himself another cup of coffee and holding the cup gingerly, he vaulted the balcony wall and moved further from the center of the storm.

She whirled from Draco, causing her red hair to slap softly against his cheek. She quickly returned to their original topic. "Avenge me! What a lot of rot! You don't even know me. Anyway, why should you care about what Your Lordship did to a worthless Weasley?"

His fingers dug into the soft fabric of her gown as he wheeled her to face him once more. He shoved his face close to hers. "He is NOT my lord. He never will be. And I DO care about you, woman! I told you that last night." Pulling her to his chest, Draco wrapped his arms around her rigid body. "Ginny, gods! I never meant to hurt you. I know what I did was wrong," She attempted to pull away, and he was forced to tighten his grip. "I should have let you be, but knowing that you had been hurt...like that, it was eating me up on the inside, Ginny. I wanted to see his face, learn who had done that to you, and I wanted to make him pay."

"It was eating YOU up on the inside?" Ginny cried, thrusting herself from his arms. "So you pried into my private hell to save yourself a bit of pain, is that what you are saying?"

"NO!" Draco insisted, "I thought I could make it go away."

"It won't ever go away!" she screamed, the tears now burning the rims of her eyes. "It happened! It really happened! I trusted him, and he raped me!"

Draco attempted to pull her into his arms once more, but she turned away, swiping at the tears that streamed down her reddened cheeks. "You can't make something like that just go away, Malfoy."

The blond wizard sighed heavily, feeling the tightness in his face growing as his shattered nose began to swell. He reached out to Ginny and tenderly rubbed his knuckles up and down the strong line of her spine. "I could try to make it better for you," he whispered. She merely shrugged, sniffling into the sleeve of her robe.

"How?" Ginny managed to croak.

Draco sagged against the wall, rolling his head against the stones. "Hell, I don't know, but I am willing to try. I can be your friend, teach you to trust me, show you that you will never have to worry about me hurting you again."

She glanced at him over her shoulder, her bitter sweet chocolate eyes red rimmed from tears. "That's going to take some doing, Malfoy," she stated plainly. "We have always been enemies."

He shrugged, giving her a familiar and wicked grin. "Yes, but we always played well. Remember?"

Ginny ducked her head to hide her own grin.

"Ah, ah! See? You remember what it was like to play with me. It can be like that again," Draco explained.

"And i why /i are you willing to do all of this?" Ginny asked.

"We are going to be stuck here for three days, Weasley. We can make nice, or we can see who throws the killing curse first. I would rather share my toys. Call it my wedding present to you," Draco finished with a crooked grin.

Ginny turned to face him fully, her arms folded protectively over her chest. "A wedding gift?" she huffed and then looked at the former Slytherin in open disbelief. "I can't believe you are actually going to marry that cow for her money!" Then voice softened. "Your eyes are starting to bruise, you know?" She gazed at his face, the sharp angles she once thought so harsh and severe, the grey eyes that, at one time, had possessed the power to freeze her in her tracks with their intense, cold hatred, and wondered at what had changed. Now, he appeared softer somehow. Still all Slytherin, yet more approachable. His features, bruises, and massive swelling aside, were lovely to behold, and not in the manner of beautiful but unfeeling Italian marble. It had to be his eyes, she decided. They were more open now, more revealing than they had been at Hogwarts. It was as if he were inviting her into his soul, throwing the doors wide, urging her to plunder at will.

An awkward second passed before Ginny lowered her eyes. "You should let Severus see to that nose. If it you allow it to get much bigger..." Embarrassed by her close inspection of his face she stammered, "Well, you know." Easing past him, she walked slowly towards the table and her waiting meal.

"Does this mean we can be friends?" Draco called quietly to her retreating back.

Ginny picked up a triangular slice of buttered toast, nibbling along the crusty edge before glancing shyly back at the wizard. "I dunno, maybe. It is going to take some time before I can really trust you again, you know?"

Draco pushed himself from the wall and slowly walked towards her, a smile beginning to stretch his thin lips before he winced in pain. He gingerly touched his nose with bloody fingers. "Well, Little Weasel, we have a few days of uninterrupted isolation to work on that. OUCH! This throbs like a bitch in heat! Where did you learn to hit like that, woman?"

Ginny stifled a giggle and swallowed a mouthful of bread. "I grew up with six brothers, Malfoy, and they never pulled their punches. It was either eat or be eaten, if you know what I mean. And then there was the DA. When Harry stopped teaching us in his fifth year, several of us continued to meet and work out new ways to defend ourselves."

"And you, of course, lead the classes?" He couldn't help but grin at the idea of tiny Ginny Weasley teaching hand-to-hand combat.

"You bet your ass I did," she quipped, settling into a chair and loading up a plate with eggs. "SEVERUS!"

Draco, who was just taking his own chair, jumped in alarm at her full-chested bellow.

"No need to yell, Miss Weasley. Your dulcet tones carry quite well without the added propulsion." Snape voice came from just beyond the hedges.

"I just wanted to let you know it is safe to return now. Draco has calmed down," she said sweetly.

"So, you have killed him then?" Snape's disembodied voice inquired. Draco winced again as his brows tried to find their way into his hairline.

Pouring herself a cup of steaming coffee, Ginny sighed dramatically. "No, simply talked him down from the rafters. He will be needing his nose fixed."

They heard the Potions Master snort impatiently. "A perfectly good waste of medicinal magic, if you ask me. He will simply say or do something else idiotic, and you will end up bashing him once more. Fix it yourself, woman! You are a witch, after all!"

"But Severus," she groaned. "I haven't my wand. Goyle took it..." Her words failed as a tangle of connected objects flew over the hedge and landed with a clang on the table top. Ginny scooped up the rattling bundle, squealing. "Severus! You retrieved my wand! And Mr. Fortescue's keys!"

"Once again, you state the obvious, Miss Weasley," Severus chided the glowing witch as he made his way from the lawn to ascend a set of stone stairs to the balcony. His shining black boot had barely touched the landing when he found his arms full of bubbling, thankful Weasley. "Miss Weasley, unhand... Stop this instant! No kisses! Alright, just one, on the cheek mind you. Now, leave off before you cause us to fall," Snape groused as Ginny escorted him to the table. Draco observed their reunion, a coal of jealousy burning in his chest.

"Severus," Ginny started in a quiet, repressed tone, climbing without hesitation onto the wizard's lap once he had gained his chair. "Last night, at the... whatever it was, well, when I first saw you...," she groaned and pressed her forehead into his lapel. "I am so sorry I doubted you! After all you've done for me, and I had to go and act like a total i girl /i on you!"

"Think nothing of it, Miss Weasley," the dark wizard intoned, his chest vibrating slightly under Ginny's fingers. "You were being pursued from all sides, confused and frightened. It was no wonder you would suspect all those that made up the pack, in spite of past associations." His black eyes burned into Draco's steel grey orbs as he gently stroked the witch's shoulder.

"I know, but," Ginny continued to whine, but Severus cut her off.

"Hush! It is over and you are safe. Besides, if you had thrown yourself into my arms expecting my protection, it might have made for a stickier ending. Let this be a lesson to you, my young friend, be very cautious upon whom you place your confidence." Again the simmering glare was directed at Draco.

"Have you spoken to my parents?" Ginny asked, twisting her fingers nervously into the pleats of Snape's robes.

"I have, leaving out the more dire events and your current location, of course. They are aware that you were abducted and that Mr. Malfoy, here, was able to come to your aid. I have made them to understand that it is in the best interest of both of you to remain in hiding for the next few days. They were hard headed about the situation, especially your brother, Ron, but were finally made to see the logic of my plan."

"I just bet," Ginny responded dryly. "So, what happens now?"

"For now," Severus said. "You and Mr. Malfoy will be my guests. In three days time, I will return to escort you back to the Burrow as Mr. Malfoy has a prior claim upon his time."

Ginny wound her arms about the wizard's neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Severus."

Snape scowled, pulling her away from him. "Now, up with you before my leg goes to sleep. Let us see to Mr. Malfoy's injury, and then I must make my way to Hogwarts."

Ginny smiled and rose to reclaim her own seat, but the smile vanished when she captured the glower that was sitting like a summer storm on Draco's face. "Are you in much pain?" she inquired, her own brow starting to furl with concern.

"Some!" he hissed. She pulled back and returned her attention to her eggs.

Draco attempted to clamp down on the verdigris serpent that had sank its fangs into his vitals at the sight of Ginny Weasley being held by his friend. Snarling at her was not the way to begin reestablishing the witch's trust, but watching as she had curled, i welcome, /i into Severus' lap, seeing their obvious appreciation of one another, had stung him deeply. The knowledge that he had done nothing but bring her harm and wretched mortification, was as acid poured upon an open and bleeding wound. Seems like the only time they had ever been able to come to any type of understanding was when they were sparing back at school.

He sighed as Severus pulled his wand, and Draco held up his palm, stalling the older wizard. "Look, Gin, that was harsh of me."

She waved her fork in dismissal, her eyes not leaving her plate. "No biggie, I understand. You're in PAIN, after all."

"Hell yes, I am bloody well in a great deal of pain, thanks to you. You have made me your personal punching bag for several days now. You nearly broke my damn hand with that blasted metal drawbridge, split my lip, BIT MY LEG for god's sake and attempted to separate me from my fingers just last night!"

"Oh, and let's not leave out how I kicked your dog and stole your lolly!" Ginny spat, finally fixing her ire on him, her brown eyes sparking.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Draco demanded.

"Stuff your whining, Malfoy," she snapped before turning to the glowering Potions Master, demanding hotly, "Severus, would you PLEASE fix him up now before he slips into a coma?"

Professor eyed the two combatants as they faced off over the toast and marmalade, cautious lest either of them fly back into the attack. "Children," he drawled dangerously, "this moment is vastly entertaining, but a shameful waste of my precious time and patience! Now, Draco, this might smart a bit- ah, yes, I can see that it did indeed. The bruises will fade shortly, but you will continue to experience some residual edema in the area for a few more hours. I suggest rest." He glared down at the pair, Ginny, who was attempting to chew silently and Draco, who cradled his throbbing face in his hands, both of them avoiding all eye contact.

The towering wizard frowned and pointed a stern finger at the both of them. "No arguing! No fighting! No dueling! No destruction of my personal property!"

"Yes, sir," the pair responded meekly.

"Very good. Now, before I forget." Severus pulled a small tan object from one of his many pockets and placed it upon the table. "Your mother felt you would not be able to survive the wretched conditions of your country prison without a i few /i , " he sneered through the word. "necessary items from home. You may disembowel the contents at your leisure. Now, Mr. Malfoy," Snape chewed out. "I was asked to deliver this missive into your hands by a pair calling themselves the Misses Catchpoles." He tossed a thick packet of parchment down in front of the pale haired wizard. " I am sure you are able to make some sense of the matter." That said, he whirled from the table. "Now that I have completed my job as nurse and post owl, I am away. If I should find even the slightest damage upon my return, rest assured, I will be most displeased."

The seated pair watched as the dark robed wizard strode across the emerald expanse of lawn, Disapparating in mid-stride. The breeze carried the small thunder clap of his passing to their ears.

Silence fell.

Ginny chewed her food with cautious attention, her eyes fixed on her plate.

Draco chewed his thoughts with equal deliberation. i Three days. I have three days to make her see some good in me. Three days! /i Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his long legs, crossing them at the ankle. He studied the young woman seated across from him and wondered how to go about breaching the gap that lay between them.

"So, Weasel," he drawled, pulling her attention from her plate, "do you ride?"

Ginny frowned. "What?"

"Ride."

"Ride?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Ride! Ride!" Draco was starting to lose his desire to be friendly.

"Yes." Ginny shook her head at his stupidity. "Ride what?"

Draco shut his eyes and made to stroke the bridge of his nose before remembering its delicate state. "Weasel, if a pureblood inquires, 'Do you ride?' they mean only one thing- horses."

"Oh," Ginny swallowed, laying her fork down and folding her napkin. "Why didn't you just say so? I am a pureblood, Draco, and I didn't have a clue as to what you meant."

"Ah yes, so you are. I tend to forget that," he eyed her evilly, his silver eyes shining, "for obvious reasons." He chuckled as Ginny reared up, her nostrils flaring once more in rising anger. "So, do you, ride, I mean?"

"Well, I have never been on a horse, but I have ridden Thestrals. Do you ride, Thestrals, I mean?" Her lips curled in a snarky grin.

Draco pouted at the look of triumph on her freckled face, but his heart fluttered in his chest. "Bitch," he said without heat.

Ginny blushed, her eyes sparkling as she raised her coffee cup. "Prick."

"Harpy."

"Wanker."

Draco poured himself another cup of coffee and smiled.

b So, Chapter 9 is in your hot, little paws. I hope it was worth the wait. Big thanks to mynuet for turning me on to Semagic. Big, WET kisses for fallenwitch for her excellent beta skills. She went above and beyond the shriek of duty for this one. Took out her trusty comma shaker and had herself a big time! I never knew I was such a comma dummy. Thank you so much!

Now, a review would be nice... /b