Chapter Ten
Ginny glanced over her shoulder and smiled at the puppy sitting at the edge of the quidditch pitch. Draco had started coming to the quidditch club meetings to watch her fly. She always felt bad that he couldn't fly with her, but he insisted that just watching her was enough.
"Nice shot, Ginny!" Colin shouted through the cold February wind. Ginny grinned and bolted off towards the other end of the pitch on her new broomstick. It was without a doubt the best Christmas present she had ever received.
"Did you find the snitch yet, Arnold?" Ginny asked one of the tiny first years, who was flying in circles above her head.
"Not yet!" He called back, his brow furrowed in obvious concentration. Ginny thought he was adorable with his sandy blonde hair and soft brown eyes. She imagined that he looked exactly like what she and Draco's son would look like. If they were ever to have children, of course. It was too early to be thinking about that, even if they were falling in love with each other.
Draco's confession so many weeks ago had got her to thinking about her own feelings for him. Although she hadn't admitted it right away, Ginny eventually realized that she felt the same way. She had never felt such a deep connection to another person in her entire life. It was scary and thrilling, blissful and incredible.
"I think he's seen it!" Romilda exclaimed excitedly. "Go, Arnold!" Ginny followed her little protégé through the sky and cheered with everyone else when his hand closed around the smooth gold ball.
Much celebration ensued as the match came to an end. Several of the upper classmen lifted Arnold onto their shoulders and carried him back up towards the castle.
"Party in the tower!" Someone shouted. "Arnold's first snitch!" Cheers of approval answered the cry, and everyone began making their way back to the Gryffindor tower.
"Are you coming to the party, Gin?" Romilda called from the depths of the mob.
"Yeah, I'll be up in a minute! I just need to lock up!" Ginny replied loudly, her voice almost entirely doused by the crowds. Then she glanced down at Draco the puppy, who was wagging his tail eagerly at her feet. "Follow me, love," she cooed, leading the way to the Gryffindor locker rooms. When they were inside, Draco transformed back into himself.
"You're doing a great thing, Ginny," Draco said reverently.
"It's just a quidditch club," she shrugged modestly. Draco shook his head.
"It's a way for those kids to take their mind off of everything that's going on in this world and just…have fun again. I feel like a lot of people have forgotten how to do that," Draco said wistfully. Then he grinned mischievously. "And watching you play quidditch is incredibly arousing." Ginny burst out laughing.
"Draco, you're ridiculous. You think me studying for AP Charms is incredibly arousing." Draco took her in his arms and kissed her gently.
"Is it my fault that you're always devastatingly attractive regardless of what you're doing?" He asked innocently.
"I suppose not," Ginny replied, kissing his cheek.
"Do you have plans for next Saturday, love?" Draco asked, trailing kisses down her neck. Ginny sighed and leaned into him.
"You mean Valentine's Day?"
"Yes," Draco answered.
"I have to meet with my AP Charms group to practice our presentation for Monday. That's at five. But other than that, I'm all yours."
"Music to my ears, Ginevra," Draco whispered, kissing her intensely.
"I have to get to the party. They'll come back looking for me if I'm not there."
"Can't you just stay for a little bit longer?" Draco groaned. Ginny grinned and looped her arms around his neck.
"Patience is a virtue, my love."
"Not when it comes to you, Ginny," Draco said, shaking his head. Ginny kissed the tip of his nose and gently untangled herself from his grasp.
"Anticipation increases the pleasure," she said with a wink. Draco rolled his eyes but smiled.
"All right, fine. I'll wait. But I'll have you know that I'm going to be shaking with anticipation when you're done with your party."
"It'll be worth the wait," Ginny promised. Draco sighed in defeat.
"If you say so."
"I do. I love you, Draco Malfoy," Ginny said, enjoying the strange, yet enjoyable sound of those words coming from her lips. Draco seemed to be equally smitten with the expression.
"I love you, too, freckles." He transformed into the puppy, and the two of them made their way back up to the Gryffindor tower.
The party was already in full swing when they arrived. For a moment, Ginny felt like she had gone back in time to the old quidditch victory parties they used to have with the team. She felt a pang of sadness, but she also couldn't help feeling proud that she had inspired this sudden return to frivolity. Ginny kissed Draco's furry head before sending him upstairs to her room. Romilda spotted her then.
"Ginny! What took you so long?" She asked, handing her friend a red plastic cup of…something.
"I ran into someone from my Charms class in the corridor," Ginny lied, eyeing the drink in her hand carefully. "Romilda, what is this?" Romilda shrugged her shoulders casually.
"Not really sure. Ritchie Coote was mixing them," she replied, gesturing to the large former Beater in the corner. Ginny frowned and glanced at the contents of her cup once more.
"I think I'll pass, then," she said, dumping her drink in the nearest trash can. Romilda took a sip from her cup and shrugged again.
"Suit yourself. I like it," she said with a mischievous grin.
"Try not to be too hung over in the morning. We have Potions," Ginny advised before walking over to talk to Colin.
"Are you drinking the jungle juice, too, Colin?" Ginny asked with a sigh.
"Are you mad? Coote is making those drinks. The day I accept a beverage from that buffoon is the day I put on a pink dress and call myself Umbridge." Ginny laughed and clapped him on the back.
"Glad to hear it, Col."
"This quidditch club was really a great idea, Ginny. I'm glad you talked me into it," Colin said with admiration. Ginny shook her head.
"I refuse to take all the credit. But I really do appreciate your help with it."
"What are friends for?" Colin asked with a crooked smile. Ginny leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You're my best friend, Colin."
"And you're mine, Ginny Weasley," Colin replied, hugging her tightly. "You're mine."
--
Ginny left the library at six thirty, utterly frustrated with the amount of time and effort it had taken to prepare the Charms presentation. She found herself in a group with lazy seventh years who were not taking the class seriously, and most of them were just looking to mooch off of her work. Needless to say, she was not in a pleasant mood.
She went right into the shower when she got back to the Gryffindor tower and stood under the hot water for awhile, letting the soothing deluge relax her muscles. When she was clean and fresh, Ginny wrapped her towel around her body and went back to her room. It took her several minutes to realize that something about her room was different. She managed to lock the door and charm it before noticing anything at all. But once she did, her mouth fell open in awe.
The room was dimly lit by dozens of white candles scattered around the room. A large vase of stunning red roses consumed her entire desktop, and rose petals were sprinkled across the floor. Where her plain blue cotton bedspread used to be, there was instead a fluffy white down comforter, pulled back to reveal red silk sheets underneath. Off to the side was a small table set elegantly for two. On its surface were a tray of chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne. Seated at the table, dressed in a formal black suit, was Draco Malfoy.
"Draco…" Ginny began softly, but she found herself unable to finish. Draco's forehead wrinkled with anxiety.
"Is it too much?" He asked carefully. Ginny shook her head, dropping her book bag and coming further into the room.
"No, it's…beautiful," she murmured, still unable to think straight. Then she noticed a box sitting at the end of the bed with a single red rose on top. "Is this for me?"
"Let me explain this rose to you," Draco said as she picked it up. "This is a True Love Rose, and it only blooms in the presence of true love."
"That's beautiful," Ginny murmured, placing it in a vase on her bedside table and filling it with water. Then she reached for the box. "Another present?'
"Yes. It's for you to wear. Open it up," Draco said, rising from his seat. Ginny gently lifted the lid of the box and moved aside the tissue paper. She grinned when she saw her gift. It was a black satin nightgown that laced up along the side. It was subtle, yet sexy lingerie.
"A gift for you and me, eh?" She said with a knowing smile.
"Will you wear it?" He asked hopefully. Ginny couldn't help giggling at his eagerness. She nodded and allowed him to help her pull it over her head. She let the towel fall to the ground, replacing it with the luxurious feel of silk against her skin. Draco took a step back to examine her fully and whistled.
"Wow," he said quietly. "I totally underestimated how amazing you would look in that." Ginny blushed and turned in a circle.
"You don't think it's too-"
"No," Draco replied before she could finish. "It's perfect. You look incredible."
"Thanks, love," she said sweetly. All of her previous thoughts were melting away, and all she could think about was how in love she was with Draco Malfoy.
"Sit down," Draco invited, pulling out the chair for her.
"How did you do all this?" Ginny asked, taking her seat.
"Magic," Draco replied with a sparkle in his eye.
"I can't believe you did this. It's beautiful."
"It was my pleasure, Ginny. I couldn't think of another way to tell you how much you mean to me." Ginny paused for a moment. Draco noticed her hesitation and frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly. "I just…I've been thinking."
"That's never good," Draco joked. Ginny rolled her eyes and grinned.
"Shut up. You'll probably want to hear this, so you might want to stop poking fun at me long enough to listen." Draco put his elbows on the table and propped his chin up on his folded hands.
"I'm sorry. Go on."
"I've been thinking a lot about my feelings for you. Don't freak out," she added rapidly, noticing that Draco's expression became anxious. "I've been thinking a lot of good things. I can't believe how quickly I fell in love with you, but somehow I know that this is the real thing. I haven't felt anything like this before in my life, and now that I have, I don't ever want to lose it."
"I feel exactly the same way, Ginny," Draco said seriously.
"Anyway, with all of that said," Ginny continued, her heart beginning to beat faster with anticipation. "I love you, Draco. And I want you to be my first." Draco was silent for a long time. He tried to read her eyes and to make sure that her request was genuine. Then, he had to search his own soul, and determine that he was ready to say yes. Ginny's speech had made her expectations perfectly clear. She was in love with him, and she planned on staying in love with him forever. If he felt anything less towards her, he could not justify his agreement.
"Are you sure, Ginny? I don't want you to do this because you feel like you have to, or anything like that," Draco said carefully. Ginny shook her head.
"I want to do it, Draco. When you were on your assignment last week, I remember sitting on my bed and my heart was just aching for you to come back. And I realized that you might not come back this time. I couldn't bear the thought of you dying without knowing just how much I love you," she explained slowly, her voice cracking with emotion. Draco reached for her hand across the table.
"I know you love me, Ginny. You don't have to do this to make sure I know that." Ginny smiled at him.
"Draco, you're sweet. I understand why you're trying to talk me out of this, but I've made up my mind. I refuse to live my life as though our fates our certain. I don't want to rely on the assumption that we'll have forever to talk about having sex, because the fact is, we don't know that we'll make it out of this war alive." Draco gripped her hand tightly in a gesture of comfort.
"I understand completely, love. If it's what you want, then I would be honored to deflower you," he said with a lopsided grin. Ginny laughed, relieved that he had lightened the mood with his joke.
"It almost seems like you knew I was going to say this," she commented, gesturing to her lingerie.
"Oh, nonsense. That lingerie is so modest compared to everything else in that store," Draco replied defensively. "It might as well be flannel footy pajamas." Ginny burst out laughing.
"Yes, I'm sure it killed you to pass up those positively indecent teddies and babydolls." Draco raised his eyebrows.
"You think it's funny? The woman at the counter looked at me as though I was crazy. She even asked me if I was sure that this was what I wanted."
"Did she really?"
"Yes!" Draco exclaimed indignantly. "I couldn't believe her audacity, especially since I was a paying customer."
"Well, I like it, Draco," Ginny said gently. "I think it's tasteful."
"Exactly! That's what I thought," Draco said, triumphant that she agreed with him. Ginny grinned and rolled her eyes at him.
"You're a silly boy, Draco."
"Silly?" Draco asked, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I am not silly." Ginny nodded her head vigorously.
"You are, my dear."
"Oh yeah? Would a silly person do this?" Draco challenged, taking a chocolate covered strawberry and throwing it across the table. His aim was true, and it settled in her cleavage. Ginny gasped in shock.
"Draco!" She exclaimed in disbelief. Now it was Draco's turn to burst out laughing. His face was red by the time he calmed down enough to speak.
"Perfect aim," he commented. Ginny rose from her chair and walked around the table to stand beside him.
"I might need some help removing this," she said innocently. The smile froze on Draco's face and a glimmer of desire flickered in his eyes. Ginny grinned. She had him. He reached out and placed his hands in the curves of her hips, pulling her towards him.
"I would be only too happy to oblige, my love," he replied. He kissed her stomach through the satin nightgown, and the heat of his breath made her tremble. He pushed his chair back from the table and invited her to sit on his lap so that her chest was level with his mouth.
"You are so beautiful, Ginevra," he whispered huskily. He retrieved the strawberry from her cleavage, his warm tongue briefly grazing her breasts. She sighed with contentment and shifted so that she rubbed against him in an extremely arousing manner. Draco groaned and closed his eyes.
"I love the way you make me feel," he murmured. Ginny kissed his forehead.
"There's more where that came from," she said softly, rising from his lap and lying down on the bed. Draco chuckled and shook his head.
"You look so tempting, Ginny."
"Then come over here and do something about it," she encouraged with a devilish smirk. Draco didn't need to be told twice. He paused just long enough to kick off his shoes and remove his jacket. He lay down on the bed beside Ginny and ran his fingers across her stomach.
"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" He asked, shaking his head in awe. Ginny took his tie in her hands and pulled his faces to hers.
"Why don't you show me?" She purred. Draco couldn't hold onto his self-control any longer. Their lips collided in an embrace of passion and lust. He rolled on top of her, pinning her to the bed with his body. He felt as though his soul had burst from his body and was flying somewhere high above the clouds. He could feel his desire pulsing through his veins, desperately wanting to be united with Ginny's.
She writhed underneath him, physically shaking with the passion and infatuation that was dictating her behavior. Draco abandoned her mouth and moved down to her neck. She groaned with satisfaction and gripped his shoulders tightly. He paused and sat up to remove his shirt, leaving him gloriously bare-chested. His deft fingers slid the straps of her nightgown down her shoulders, and before she knew it, her breasts were exposed to the cool air.
Ginny didn't have time to feel self-conscious as she normally did when Draco saw her half-naked. She was so distracted by the wonderful things he was doing to her breasts with his tongue. She moaned thickly and ran her fingers through his hair. He came back to her lips and kissed her fervently. When the kiss ended, they both looked into each other's eyes for a moment.
"You're amazing," Draco said breathlessly.
"I love you," Ginny replied, equally winded. Draco caressed her cheek lovingly and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"If I hurt you, stop me," he said. "I'll be as gentle as possible." Ginny nodded, her heart racing anxiously. She had heard many different stories about losing virginity. Some people said it hurt like hell. Others had said that they barely felt anything. But the general consensus was that being too nervous made the entire experience less enjoyable. So she took several deep breaths to calm herself down. Draco noticed her apprehension and kissed her gently.
"I love you, Ginny," he reassured her with a smile. Her worries and fears seemed to dissolve in his smile, and she grinned back.
"Show me," she whispered. He kissed her passionately while simultaneously peeling the nightgown away from the rest of her body. She kicked it off, letting it fall to the floor in a pool of black satin. Draco unbuttoned his pants and slid them down his own legs, adding them to the pile of discarded clothing.
Ginny tried not to think about what was happening, because she knew that once she did, she was going to get nervous all over again. Instead, she focused on her feelings for Draco and the way he was making her feel. Suddenly, Draco was completely naked. His boxers slid to the floor, and there they were. Both completely bare and both completely in love. Draco held her eyes as he tried to situate himself comfortably.
"Last chance, Ginny. We don't have to do this," he said gently. Ginny shook her head and smiled.
"I want you to, Draco. I want you," she said confidently. Draco kissed her ardently and gently eased his way inside her. Ginny gasped, shocked by the initial burst of pain.
"Did I hurt you? Do you want me to stop?" Draco asked worriedly. Ginny shook her head vigorously.
"No, no! Don't stop," she breathed, growing more accustomed to the feel of it by the second. Draco obeyed and kissed her again, gently helping her to match the rhythm of his hips. She caught it easily, and she was soon lost in a world of dizzying pleasure and bliss.
On the bedside table, the True Love Rose slowly stretched open its petals.
--
Ginny yawned and rolled over, searching for the clock. When her eyes adjusted to the dark and she found it, she groaned. It was three in the morning. Draco stirred next to her and opened his eyes.
"What's wrong, love?" He grumbled somnolently.
"Nothing. Just thought it was later than it actually is," she replied. Draco nuzzled her bare neck and kissed her shoulder.
"Want to give it another go?" He asked. Although she couldn't see his face, she could hear the smirk in his voice.
"I'm actually kind of hungry," Ginny admitted apologetically. Draco got up immediately and brought her the tray of strawberries, as well as the champagne.
"I'd hate for all of this to go to waste," he said, popping the cork on the bottle. Ginny smiled and reached for a strawberry.
"They look delicious."
"Not as delicious as you, love," Draco said with a grin. Ginny blinked in surprise.
"You're still randy, aren't you?"
"Excuse me for being a little aroused by the fact that I'm in bed with a gorgeous, naked redhead who happens to be crazy about me," Draco replied casually. Ginny giggled and accepted the glass of champagne he was holding out to her.
"You're excused," she answered.
"To you, Ginevra Weasley," Draco said, lifting his glass in acknowledgement. "The most beautiful girl I know."
"I'll drink to that," Ginny said with a wink. He took a drink and kissed her cheek affectionately.
"So…are you happy with your decision now that you've had some time to think about it?" Draco asked, popping a strawberry into his mouth. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I think I made that quite obvious earlier this evening when I said something to the effect of, 'I'm so glad we decided to do this,'" Ginny replied wryly. Draco's eyes widened.
"Cranky, are we?"
"I'm probably still a little randy," she commented casually. "No big deal."
"Oh really? Because I would say that that is a big deal." Ginny grinned and Draco lunged at her, capturing her lips in a fervent embrace. He took the champagne glass from her hand and set it on the bedside table. Ginny's body immediately woke up and began quivering in anticipation of what was to come. Draco was suckling on her breasts when she first heard the tapping.
"Draco?" She whispered.
"Mhmm?" He mumbled in return, not wanting to leave her bosom.
"Draco, do you hear that?" At this, Draco sat up and became suddenly alert.
"Hear what?"
"Listen," Ginny hissed. The tapping noise came again and they both looked at each other.
"Stay here," Draco ordered, sliding out of bed and wrapping his robe around his naked body. Cautiously, he approached the window and narrowed his eyes.
"It's an owl," he whispered.
"At this hour?" Ginny asked incredulously. "Who would send something at this late hour-" She trailed off as both of them realized exactly who would send something at this late hour of the night. Draco opened the window and took the letter from the bird. He glared at it hatefully.
"I don't even want to read it," he said bitterly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Ginny crawled over to him and put her arms around him supportively.
"You have to, Draco," she reminded him gently. Draco ripped the envelope open savagely and pulled out the letter. Ginny waited patiently while Draco performed the correct Charms to decipher the code. Suddenly, Draco stood up, crumpled up the letter and threw it viciously into the fire.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked with concern. "When do you leave?"
"Now," Draco replied through gritted teeth. Ginny felt her heart plummet into her stomach.
"Oh, no," she said softly.
"The letter said I should be ready to leave in five minutes," Draco continued. He kicked Ginny's book bag in frustration. "I don't want to leave!" He said loudly. Ginny lifted herself out of bed and crossed the room. She worked her way into his arms, and he held her to him tightly.
"I'll be waiting for you when you get back. Don't worry, love," she said reassuringly. Draco kissed the top of her head.
"I wish I could stay here in bed with you for the rest of my life," he whispered thickly. Ginny squeezed him gently.
"Me too, Draco. Now, you had better hurry, or else you'll arrive wherever you're going in just your robe," Ginny said with a small smile. Draco couldn't manage to smile back. He dressed in silence, and two minutes later, they were saying their goodbyes.
"When should I come get you?" Ginny asked quietly. Draco sighed heavily.
"Two weeks from now."
"Two weeks?" Ginny exclaimed in shock. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest as she imagined two weeks of separation from him. Draco shook his head.
"I know, love."
"Well…we'll survive," Ginny said firmly. Draco nodded in agreement.
"Of course we will." Both of them glanced at the clock apprehensively. They had thirty seconds left. Their lips met in an urgent kiss that lasted as long as they dared. When they pulled apart, they barely had enough time to say their "I love you's" before Draco was whisked away to uncertainty.