Working for the Dragon

Chapter 12. Hero


Gloomy rays of light depicting the wintery weather shone on my face, disturbing me while I was in the middle of my strangely painful slumber. This has got to be the worst sleep that I've ever had in ages, my head hurt like hell and my back was sore. Even so, my bed felt like heaven, which was why, I felt as though my sleep had been intruded on.

My sheets were silky and heavenly against my bare skin, I sighed in bliss when I felt someone gently massaging the back of my head. Someone with big, calloused yet amazingly warm hands; Mum, I thought.

I turned, wanting her to knead the front of my head when a thought struck me that I should've fallen down from my bed, or at the very least, knocked into my mother.

Suddenly, I was more aware than ever, where I was as memories of the previous night flashed back to me.

"I think she is awake. Get her something to eat." An accented, deep voice ordered.

French? Italian? I briefly wondered about the man's accent while pretending to be asleep.

"Yes sir." A squeaky voice answered and then I heard a 'pop' sound enough to make me wince.

It added on to my headache. Whose house was I in? The bed was definitely too comfortable to be mine.

I felt safe, but I couldn't be sure. I didn't trust myself. Last time I felt safe, I ended up in the Chamber of Secrets due to my own stupidity.

I felt movement on the mattress. Observing through my squinted eyes, I realized that he was not facing me, instead he was peering inside what I recognized was my handbag!

Now was my chance, without looking, I grabbed the heaviest object – which turned out to be a lamp on the bedside table and flung it towards him violently.

It missed his head by mere inches as he chose the perfect moment to turn in my direction. The lamp smashed into pieces and glancing at it once told me that it was rather valuable looking.

"What the…." He looked at the lamp then towards me.

He had ash black hair which was rather shaggy in appearance, olive-toned skin with the brightest shade of blue for eyes that I had ever seen on anyone with that skin tone.

If this man wasn't someone whom I anticipated to be a murderer, rapist, serial killer or a remote psychopath, I'd say that he was gorgeous, like runway model gorgeous.

He was tall and his muscles were defined through his half buttoned, white shirt. And he wore black pants with those polished shoes. The kind you'd imagine someone wearing with a tux.

Oh Merlin! Tux? My imagination ran wild thinking of all the movies I watched back in the university days when the killer wore a tuxedo.

I could feel my heart thumping trying to match up pace with the adrenaline rush that I was encountering in my blood stream. My injuries lay forgotten.

Internally, my mind chanted, 'Go! Go! Gryffindor!" – Probably trying to give me some courage to confront this stranger.

"Who the hell are you? Where the fuck am I? Tell me now!" I screeched at him fiercely. My anger was enough to light up an entire house with the sparks.

Truth be told, I was freaking scared, internally.

This was definitely not like the awkward mornings in the morning, post one night stand like they showed in the movies.

"Wait, relax…" Before he could say anything else, I grabbed pillows from the bed, throwing it towards him, buying time for my escape.

I attempted to scramble off the bed just as he pounced on me. He grabbed my arms and pinned me to the bed. My arms were above my head. I struggled, kicking my legs wildly.

At one point, I was about to hit his man jewels when he stopped me with a loud, "NOT THERE!"

He had me stunned for a few seconds and he used it to his advantage, wrapping his legs around mine in a tight hold.

"Let me go!"

"No! Not until you listen to me!"

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!"

"Fuck...!" He covered my mouth with his palm as his one hand gripped both my hands.

If I ever made out of this place alive, I'll make hitting the gym or exercising one of my New Year resolutions.

I stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Listen to me, okay? I am not going to hurt you, I swear. Please. Now, be quiet. I've got an old hag for a neighbor who thinks I have kinky sex whenever I am in town. The last thing I need is her pounding on my door." He pleaded. His eyes were clear with truth like the ocean.

Remember Ginny, Tom Felton (Muahahahaha! Ignore that line!)

Remember, Ginny. Tom Marvolo Riddle.

That's it. My mind was made up.

"I'll release you on the count of three. 1…2…3!"

"AAAAAAHHHHHGGGHHH!" I shrieked shrilly like a wailing banshee.

"I told you not to scream." He hushed me with his hand once again.

I attempted to bite his hand. I was right about to get my way with the flesh on his hand and make his see stars like he'd never forget when we heard the door the pounding.

Once again, there was a 'pop' sound and a house elf appeared.

"Master…. at… door." That's all I caught. I had to give this house elf credit; all I caught were those words.

And from my experience, or the serious lack of in this case, I thought house elves were rather loud creatures.

Maybe I had them stereotyped mentally, thanks to Dobby; bless his free soul and Kreacher.

"I'll get the door, Gilly." He said, sighing in defeat and the house elf apparated, making my stomach churn.

"Relax, okay? Like I said, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to answer the door and Gilly will see to your needs. Please?" He said ever so convincingly.

Studying his features, I realized that he looked extremely familiar but somehow my headache wasn't allowing me to recall.

He practically sprinted to the door, in a flash, he was gone and the door banged behind him.

I stared, dumbfounded.


What happened outside

Draco banged his best friend's door impatiently. "Open up, Zabini! I know you're in there!"

It was the first day of the New Year's and he was standing outside of his pal's house for the last couple of minutes pounding at it like an insane person. Not at all his style.

The reason was simply because, they had plans to celebrate New Year's last night with a couple of other mates at a pub. Blaise was in town after covering the fashion season in Italy. He had finally put a foot down against attending all those high-society 'I-am-single-so-are-you' parties.

When he did not turn up, Draco figured that, being the bad boy Casanova he usually was, Blaise had found a woman and apparently hooked up with her at his place, celebrating a sensual New Year.

Draco was pissed. And right now, the fact that Blaise was taking forever to answer the door proved his theory to be correct.

Blaise was probably getting dressed. Knowing him, he'd probably try to cover up by getting his latest hook up to climb out of his window or something. Draco thought grimly. That's what he did when Mother came over.

Speak of the Devil, the door to Blaise's apartment whipped open, "Hello, brother from another mother!" Blaise exclaimed a little too cheerfully for his own good.

Draco scrutinized his best friend, guilty.

He was breathing heavily, as though he had just ran a couple of miles. He was disheveled.

"Who is she, this time?" Draco narrowed his eyes towards the other man.

Blaise visibly gulped.

"No one, mate. I swear." He raised his hands up.

Something was amiss, Draco realized. "Care to tell me where you were last night."

"Erm…" Blaise scratched his black hair so obviously thinking of an excuse.

Of course we knew that Slytherins in general were cunning and sly and making up excuses was just a snap of a finger for them however, in this case, Blaise and Draco were always genuine.

The both of them knew each other's true personalities. Their life, their pain, everything was the same. Hence, they were best friends.

"Really, Blaise?" Draco shook his head, exasperated. He wasn't desperate for information or anything like that.

He took a look around Blaise's apartment, been a while since he last came here. Typical bachelor's pad.

"Mother would want you to stay with us." He said calmly.

Blaise nodded his head, relieved that Draco couldn't really care less about his active sex life.

"I can't keep staying with the both of you can, I? Besides, Mama Zabini wouldn't like that." He replied wryly, perhaps at the thought of his own mother.

Draco sat down, displaying his typically casual demeanor, if he had anything to say, he sure as hell did not show it.

He thrummed his fingers on the leather armchair, relaxed.

"Sooooo…." He raised his eyebrows.

Blaise shrugged, not knowing what to say.

"Italy was great, huh?"

"Fab, mate. One can only party so much though. Mama was asking me why you weren't there though. Said she found someone to introduce to you." He snickered at the last bit.

Despite the casual conversation, Draco could tell that Blaise was rather edgy.

"Something bothering you?"

"Huh? Oh… No. I'm cool."

There was a loud bang and Blaise jumped. The noise was all it took to get Draco to spring into action.

Cautiously, he stood up and walked quietly towards the locked room.

Someone was banging desperately on the door.

"…Let me out!" A girl's muffled voice sounded.

He looked at Blaise as he took out his wand from his pocket. "Nothing, huh? Alohomora!"


Ginny's POV

Merlin's pant! He just left me hangin'!

I needed to get out of here. He may not have been dangerous but what if it was some kind of pimp at the door? What if he was going to earn galleons by selling me to that pimp who'd eventually export me to some whorehouse in China?

Or make me a showgirl at some strip house in Vegas? My blood ran cold at the thoughts that my mind was framing.

I examined my clothes. I was wearing... boxers? And an old black Hogwarts t-shirt with the Slytherin house logo on it.

Why did this look so familiar?

I looked around for ways to escape and sadly, there were none. Unless if I wanted to die of hypothermia.

That's it then, I decided. I'll just have to take my chances.

I tried to open the shutters but I couldn't. My wand was nowhere to be found.

The last option was to bang at the door. My heart held a little hope that maybe, just maybe, my hero would be standing out there.

That was some romantic thought wasn't it?

Oh what the hell.

I banged my fists really hard on the door, "I don't give a fuck about who you are or whether you are going to hurt me or not. Let me out!" I screamed till I could scream no more.

My voice was hoarse. I was parched from all the constant hollering.

I turned and opened the chest drawers hoping to find something that would help me out. Everything that was distinctively fragile or heavy laid on the floor in a broken mess.

Candelabras, lamps, figurines, a trophy.

I heard the noise of the door opening. Grabbing the first thing I saw, which happened to be a vase, I threw it like a Quaffle.

I made a run for it, colliding with the person who opened the door. I lost my balance and closed my eyes, braising myself for the fall that apparently never came.

Strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist. My head was buried in freshly scented robes that were definitely expensive. I was overwhelmed by this musky yet citrusy cologne scent, a scent that was all too familiar.

"Ginny?" He sounded coolly surprised.

Draco.

I opened my eyes only to meet grey depths steadying me. He looked at me and then towards the other man, the one whom I threw stuff at earlier.

"Zabini, what the fuck is my secretary doing in your apartment? Most importantly, in your bedroom?"

Zabini? I could literally see the puzzle solving in my head which felt heavy at the moment.

Blaise Zabini. The hot Latino Slytherin that my best friend used to have eyes for!

"Actually, mate. This is the guest room. You sleep here, remember? Sometimes." Blaise pointed out.

"That isn't really the point now, is it? I want to know what the hell she is doing here." He demanded.

I was still in his arms, and his grip on me was tighter than ever. I was swarmed by that secure feeling again.

He was warm and comforting. I felt a million times better immediately, although my back hurt even more.

I think, it was bruised.

"Draco….you're hurting me." I managed, weakly, trying to interrupt their conversation.

I don't think he heard it though because his protective grip never loosened. I could till with the pain though, it wasn't excruciating, it was just really uncomfortable. Like a dull ache sort of thing.

Blaise was recounting his tale of how I ended up at his place.

"On the way to meeting you all at…. Stopped at Knockturn Alley to get… Passed a deserted alley, there was a man attacking…."

I shivered in Draco's arms, finally recalling every little detail. He held me tighter, in comfort.

"Ginny, you walked through Knockturn Alley?" His voice was quiet, yet I could feel every bit of fury behind it.

Uncertain of what to say, I nodded my head, confirming an answer to his question. I couldn't possibly tell him about the figure could I?

"Do you realize that the last thing that you should be doing is walking down the most notorious street in London? That is an impeccably foolish deed that you committed."

I know I should have felt bad but deep down inside, I was rejoicing. He cared.

I don't know why, but that thought made me happy. It did.

"Why are you smiling?" He asked, dryly, shaking me out of the daze that I had been in.

"I was just thinking about how, I am safe now." I looked up at him again.

"You have me to thank for that." Blaise added in from the corner.

I looked at him from Draco's arms.

"Thank you, Zabini. And I'm sorry for this." I apologized sheepishly feeling foolish. At the same time, I felt gratitude. If it weren't for him, the whole China thing might just come true.

"My, aren't you one feisty woman." He smirked at me, seductively.

I rolled my eyes to myself. "Blame it on the imagination." I shook my head pitifully, clutching it when it hurt.

"Are you alright?" Draco immediately brought me to the messed up bed.

"I feel like my head just got attempted to split into two parts like cantaloupe or watermelon." He chuckled at this.

"I'll get you something for the head. You know, all this while, you could've saved yourself some hurt by lying there like a good girl." Blaise shook his head, tsk-ing.

"Shut up, Blaise." Draco said, playfully, defending me.

He helped me settle on the bed, after muttering some charms to neaten it again.

"This room is a cluttered mess!" He exclaimed. –"I think you broke some of Blaise's prized possessions." He studied the smashed pieces on the ground.

My heart sank. Merlin knew how many months of salary would I have to give away just to pay him back. Maybe a lifetime.

"On second thoughts, I highly doubt that Blaise cares about any of these things. You just gave him a reason to add more bachelor type stuff here."

"Really?" I confirmed weakly.

"Yeah, in fact, I might just hang up my collection of brooms in here." Blaise entered the room with his house elf who immediately cleared everything.

"What is Gilly doing here?" Draco looked at Blaise.

"Well…" He defended himself, "Aunt Narcissa said that I could borrow her anytime even though I wasn't living within the manor."

Draco shrugged, not really caring.

Meanwhile, Blaise focused his attention on me. I was lying down comfortably.

"There you go, drink some of this. It's a Hangover Potion. It cures the worst of headaches and migraines. Yours will be gone. Trust me." He winked. – "I'm practically a professional on this."

Wordlessly, I sipped at the nasty potion. Usually, for headaches, I relied on muggle medicines.

"What do you think this is?" Draco raised his eyebrows, - "Butterbeer? Drink it up at one go."

I pinched my nose, not wanting to smell the pungent mixture of disgusting ingredients.

I may not be brilliant at Potions but I paid enough attention to know what went in there and mind you, it ain't pretty.

I gasped at its taste once I was done.

"It's nasty right?" Blaise grinned. I bet he was probably thinking of karma.

Continuing he said, "I don't think I know your name but I know you from somewhere. I've been meaning to ask you this."

"Ginny Weasley." I refreshed his memory.

"Weasel Junior?" He looked questioningly at Draco who nodded his head briefly.

I was outraged. "You Slytherins had such awful names for us!"

"Not like you noble Gryffindors didn't have any for us. I forgot what Potter called Snape." Draco looked at Blaise who shook with laughter.

"Greasy-haired git." I smiled a little at the sudden nostalgia.

"Professor Snape has my respect." I stated. It was true. As intimidating as he was, he had truly earned my respect in so many ways.

"Your names were nasty though. You called Hermione a …." I defended.

Both of them visibly shrugged, they had nothing to say about that.

Finally Draco looked me in the eye and said firmly, "Let bygones be bygones."

I felt my heart flutter a little at that. It was as though he was trying to tell me something else. Or maybe, I was imagining things.

'Pop' The house elf appeared, startling me. The men looked composed, as though they were used to this kind of incessant and sudden popping.

"I brought madam something to eat, young master." The house elf squeaked, looking at me apprehensively. She served it on the empty – thanks to me, bedside table.

Draco immediately helped me up, positioning me such that my head was resting on the cushioned headboard of the bed.

I flinched as there was too much pressure being applied on my back.

"Are you alright?" He noticed me trying to settle myself.

"My back hurts." I muttered, concentrating.

"You hurt your back in Knockturn Alley as well, right?" Blaise asked me, worriedly.

I think he was afraid that he might have caused me physical harm during our 'fight' earlier.

I nodded my head, biting my lip because suddenly, it hurt like hell.

"Let me see." Blaise froze just as I glared at him.

If he wanted to examine my bruises, he'll have to take my shirt off. And no, I wasn't wearing a bra.

Yeah, I was the Queen of Modesty, I know.

There was a silent exchange between the men before Draco turned and looked at me.

"Can I check your bruises then?" His tone was calm, collected, comforting even. His eyes on the other hand were hypnotic, persuasive.

"Er…." What the hell do I tell my boss?

"Just move, Ginny." He insisted.

"You know what, I think I am going to back down a little here. I'll be outside. If you guys need anything…." He paused.

"We'll ask Gilly." Draco assured him as he laughed and walked out of the room.

He turned, focusing his attention to me. Holding my arm, he lifted me up gently. Skin on skin, I'd never felt like how I was currently feeling before. I hate to put it this way, but Draco against me felt like a science experiment. An electric one, it was as though we caused sparks.

He definitely realized this because he moved away.

I sat up now, feeling really uncomfortable. I wasn't looking at Draco so I didn't know how he reacted.

He breathed. "That's mine."

I had no idea what he was talking about so I turned to look at him, puzzled.

"You are wearing my shirt." He inched me such that I could see my back from the mirror.

Mind you, the view was sexy, if you liked the images on the cover of cheesy historical romances. A thick blanket protecting my modesty, the black t-shirt was partially lifted.

I could see the words, 'MALFOY 08' in bold on the shirt along with a large Slytherin logo. This was some Quidditch jersey of some sort.

I didn't quite know how to react. However, Draco on the other hand was quite taken with it. The shirt, I mean.

"I'm sorry…." I muttered, embarrassed. "I'll take it off."

"Huh?" Draco looked up, distracted. "Take what off?"

Finally, understanding dawned upon him. "Oh no, that's not necessary. I was just remembering the good old Hogwarts days. Besides, what will you wear?" He smirked as he eyed me.

I flushed crimson; I could feel my cheeks burning. It felt right as though he had x-ray vision. He cleared his throat, on a more serious note.

"It looks good on you, Ginny." He paused, adding after a moment. "My shirt."

I felt my heart beat rising. I smiled lightly showing my way of thanks to his … compliment.

Gently, he lifted my shirt higher, his cool breath on my back made me shiver. He traced his finger unintentionally seductive; I frowned when he hit a sore spot.

"That hurt a lot, didn't it?" He asked, nonchalantly as though he was asking about the weather.

I nodded my head, silent.

He casted a healing charm and opened an untouched drawer taking something that looked like a balm.

"This will make it hurt less. The healing charm is a little slow; I haven't advanced in my First Aid skills." He said, apologetically yet light.

I held out my hand wanting him to give me the balm. Instead, I was rewarded with a very incredulous look.

"Do you really think that I'm going to let you apply this on your own?" He questioned me sharply.

I bit my lip, skeptical.

If it was dignified enough for a Malfoy to roll his eyes, I bet my half – empty Gringotts account that he would.

"Honestly, Weasley, do you really think that I'm about to pounce on you and rape you?" He raised a blonde eyebrow.

"On second thoughts, don't answer that question. I don't want to know what goes on in that mind of yours."

"You called me Weasley." I blurted out, not thinking.

"Well, I can't really call you Ginny if I am agitated can I? Something about getting the point across." He gave his infamous smirk at the last line.

Once again, he rendered me speechless. Someday, the battle will turn. Or however that saying goes….

I couldn't tell if it was the little balm that was working, but seriously, his hands worked like magic. I closed my eyes and bit my lip from moaning.

"Careful, Weasley, any harder and you'll be bleeding." He whispered seductively.

I opened my eyes to that and turned to face him.

"Like I said, something about getting the point across. " He wore a very smug look.

If I didn't think he was sexy, I swear, I'd have knocked that smug look off his face in no time.

That's it! I let out a loud gasp.

"Did I hurt you?" He sounded really concerned.

I shook my head, mumbling something unintelligible.

An epiphany hit me with the force of a mountain. Or maybe, I was just being my overly dramatic self.

It wasn't really an epiphany. More like a realization or me finally acknowledging something that I knew within my sub-conscious mind.

I had a crush on my boss.

There. There you go; I read somewhere that it gets easier to accept when you say it out.

I have a crush on my boss.

I have a crush on my boss.

I have a crush on my boss.

"I have a crush on my boss." I didn't realize that I had said it aloud until I heard it myself.

"For the record, no, I am trying not to crush you." Draco said, smiling wryly.

I thanked all divine powers which prevented Draco Malfoy, sexy as he was, from having supersonic hearing.

I was silent, just watching his hands move around me from the mirror. And watching him, even though he didn't realize it, on my part, the air was getting steamy.

We were interrupted by none other than Blaise himself.

"Everything okay?" He peered inside from the doorway.

I spent the entire morning and let's say lunch at Blaise's apartment. By the end of it, Blaise and I were chummy. Who knew Slytherins were so nice?

We were recalling Hogwarts days together and turns out, the part of the sorting hat going malfunctioning on my head apparently never went unnoticed.

Draco noticed it. I felt a little bubble of happiness inside when I realized that he had noticed me in Hogwarts.

The infamous Bat Bogey Hex. He never forgot that too.

"You held me too hard, it was payback." I laughed mischievously alongside Blaise while I explained.

Suddenly noticing the time from the clock on the mantelpiece, I decided that it was time to go home.

"I'll escort you, Ginny." Draco added firmly as I got up to leave. I knew then that it was pointless protesting.

"Suit yourself." I shrugged.

"See you next time, Blaise." I patted his shoulder. He was such a nice guy; it was surprising how much you could know about someone in just a couple of hours.

If my best friend knew I was talking to Blaise Zabini, she would have died and gone to heaven.

I was still wearing Draco's clothes, by the way. My clothes were torn and dirtied. Draco, I just noticed had dressed down. He was wearing a plain white tee which was v-necked and exposed his bare chest and khakis, completely dressed down and casual. He wasn't muscular by all means, but he wasn't lacking in that department either.

"You know…" I commented as we exited, "I don't think I've ever seen you dressed so casually."

"Get used to it." He answered me brusquely. We stopped short in the middle of the path.

"Now, madam, what is your preferred mode of transportation?" He gestured grandly.

I gulped, "What are my choices?"

"The one and only." His eyes gleamed with interest at my reaction.

"You're escorting me home, right?" I confirmed. He nodded his head, smirking.

"Whatever you say then." I let him make the decisions.

He whisked me off by the elbow to a more deserted corner down the street.

I barely realized that we had performed side-along apparition until I noticed us walking towards my house.

"Er… Wow. That was fast." I mentioned awkwardly.

"You think?" He replied, somewhat pleasant.

The mid-afternoon air was piercingly cold even though I was bundled up in my cloak. The only thing that survived from last night apart from my wand which Blaise had so kindly returned to me.

Finally, we reached my doorstep. Shyly, I asked him,

"Draco, do you want to come inside?" He declined the offer. I was about to bid him adieu when he surprised me with a really random question.

"Is the offer still open?" He sounded somewhat interested.

"Yeah..." I nodded my head wondering what he was up to.

"Great." He was rather excited. I was suspicious.

"What's up?" I asked, doubtfully.

"The sky-" He gave me 'The Look' and answered sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes because obviously it was my kind of thing to do. "Seriously, Draco…"

He sighed in defeat knowing that I was not going to let him in if he didn't tell me what was on his mind.

"Remember how you mentioned once….." My heart fluttered as he approached the topic with a playful type of caution.

"Yes..?" I breathed.

"That there is an annoying ghoul in your house? I want to see it." He finished it so fast, I wasn't sure if I caught it right.

I stared at him, dumbfounded for a few seconds under the icy weather.

"You…want to see… that ghoul?" I asked weakly.

He nodded his head like an enthusiastic child. I processed that request for a few seconds when I noticed him fighting a smile.

"DRACO MALFOY! YOU ANNOYING PRAT! GET OUT FROM HERE NOW!" He burst into gleeful laughter as I smacked him and pushed him out of my porch.

"GET LOST YOU IDIOT!" I wasn't angry, I was laughing along but smacking him allowed me to touch him, something I had been dying to do for ages.

"Awww… C'mon. I'll show you mine if you show me yours." He offered.

I gave him a weird look, "Do you have any idea how wrong that sounded, Mr. Malfoy?" I prodded a finger on his bare chest feeling the warmth it emitted.

He laughed again making my heart swell like a balloon. It was good to see him light, carefree almost even though it was at my expense.

Draco stopped laughing and looked at me.

"I wanted to ask you something." He said abruptly interrupting my inner drooling session.

"Shoot." He motioned to the ground and I smacked him once again on his shoulder.

"Seriously –"He insisted. "You're afraid of apparating aren't you?"

I bit my lip and realized that without wanting to; I had just confirmed his doubts. I saw it in his eyes.

He patted my shoulder reassuringly, "It's okay, everybody has their own set of fears. I have mine too. "

"Really?" I whispered trying to sound alluring, "Well, maybe someday you'll just have to share them with me."

"Someday?" He raised his eyebrows querying, flirtatiously.

"Definitely not today." I said, laughingly, pushing him away once again.

"Okay. Okay." He raised his hands up, -"I'm going. I'm going."

He moved backwards, slowly as I watched him.

"Go Draco!" I insisted, smiling.

I followed him, knowing that he'll prolong his departure more.

"So you're really not letting me see the ghoul are you?" He tried to persuade me.

"I hate to be a killjoy, but… no." His display of enthusiasm for the ghoul was pretty amusing.

"Alright." Just as I assumed that he was about to apparate, he pulled me close to him.

We were merely inches away from each other. Any closer and he'd kiss me. He leaned in his fresh breath fanning my face. His eyes were darker than ever, like a storm cloud or maybe it was because of the distance.

"Happy New Year, Ginny." He kissed my cheek softly, caressing my cheek

My eyes grew wide. How many times would my speech remain absent because of this man? I opened my mouth to reply but, he was gone!

Hell, I didn't even wish him; neither did I realize that he was disappeared.

I clapped my cheek, still tingling from his touch. It may have been a friendly gesture but it felt romantic. I didn't know what to think anymore. Draco was messing with my head.

I think I died and went to heaven.


For all those who figured that the stranger was Blaise Zabini, this chapter is for you. And nope, there is not going to be a love triangle or any other shapes for that matter. Another word for salve is also balm, by the way. Did anyone notice how Blaise greeted Draco? Muahahaha! Oh and I'm way passed the usual length by the way!

Ain't Draco a sweetheart? So anyway, the Weasley's are coming home soon. Any ideas on how you want them to find out, a specific Weasley? Do share your ideas! It's an important part of the story, people. The kiss comes right after that! Yes, you read that right, the kiss is coming soon! :) Who is glad that Ginny finally realised that she likes Draco? :D

Wishing y'all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Do share your resolutions in your reviews. :)

Happy belated birthday to Veronica21! I tried to upload earlier, really, I did. I hope you like it though. X

So, how about a Christmas present, guys? Leave me a review and make my day. Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR ONCE AGAIN, LOVELIES! XOXOXOXO