And I would do anything for love
I'd run right into hell and back
I would do anything for love
I'll never lie to you and that's a fact

Maybe I'm crazy
But it's crazy and it's true
I know you can save me
No one else can save me now but you

But I'll never stop dreaming of you
Every night of my life
No way

I would do anything for love
But I won't do that

-I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meat Loaf

Draco lay Ginny's limp body in the bed, pulling the covers up over her. She had passed out shortly after the encounter with Zabini, her emotions overcome by the ordeal of the trial. Not that he blamed her. He wished he himself could fall asleep beside her and dream that this had never happened. That Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle had lost. No, that they had never even had the thought to so much as touch Ginny at all. But it was useless to wish to undo the past.

Draco kissed Ginny lightly on the lips and brushed her hair out of her face, staring sadly at his fallen angel. She didn't deserve what had happened to her. No one did, but especially not someone as beautiful, amazing, and innocent as Ginny. He still couldn't believe, couldn't fathom, that those bastards had gotten away with what they'd done. It only showed how corrupted the Ministry had become with evil and greed.

Draco hated them. All of them. The Death Eaters, the corrupt Ministry of Magic, the men that hurt the only person in this world that mattered to him. He believed in justice, in atonement, and he believed those men should pay. One way or another. His face set in a resolute grimace, Draco glanced once more at his sleeping girlfriend before turning and leaving the room, heading downstairs.

The sound of a familiar voice reached his ears as he turned towards the living room. Conrad was here speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley; well, Conrad was speaking, Mrs. Weasley was sobbing, and Mr. Weasley was silent. "How…how could this have happened? How?" Ginny's mother asked. How seemed to be the question on everyone's mind since the trial.

"I'm sorry." Conrad sighed. "The Ministry…it's not what it used to be. The Death Eaters have infiltrated it silently, slowly, but surely. They control most of it now. Whomever didn't already side with Malfoy from the beginning was either bribed or threatened by the man. He is very rich and very powerful, and no one would want to stand up to that." The man stood, pacing the room, his long shadow passing into the hallway where Draco stood listening. "We know we are approaching dark times when a victim becomes a criminal and a criminal a victim." The man paused. "Draco. No need to stand out in the hallway. Come in."

The boy did as he was told, entering the living room. He didn't wonder how the man knew he was eavesdropping; like Dumbledore used to he just seemed to have a sixth sense. Conrad approached him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Draco. You put your trust in me and I've failed you. I don't feel right keeping your money, especially now that I know to what lengths you went to attain it. Please, take it back."

Draco shook his head. "No. No one could have seen what was coming, not even you. I think no matter how good of a case you put up, we still would have lost. As for the money, you have a family to raise. You need it more than I do."

Conrad bit his lip, choosing his words before he spoke. "Draco. I know you may feel that the outcome of the trial was unjust, and it was, but…I don't want you to do anything rash out of your anger."

Draco's jaw clenched as he stared at the ground. He tried to put his mask in place, the one he had perfected for his father, but being around Ginny for so long he'd gotten rusty. He knew the hatred shone through his eyes, but he hoped Conrad didn't notice. "I don't know what you're talking about…all of my actions are thoroughly thought out."

"Draco…" There was a sharp warning in the man's tone. He leaned closer, dropping his voice to a hushed whisper. "I don't want to have to be defending you next."

"You won't. You can rest assured, Conrad." Conrad nodded, though it was obvious he didn't believe Draco.

Molly turned to her husband. "What if Ginny has another nightmare?"

"I've brought plenty of sleeping draughts for her, Mrs. Weasley," Draco replied.

The woman didn't seem to know what to do with herself. It was obvious she needed to be active, cooking, cleaning, or fretting over her children, to keep herself calm. "I don't want her going back to Hogwarts after this. It doesn't feel right."

"With all due respect, Mrs. Weasley, she must." Molly seemed surprised by the insistence in Conrad's voice. "I don't know if you noticed it, but from what Draco told me Ginny has improved dramatically since she's been with him at Hogwarts. I think if she was here without him she would only regress back into her old state. She needs to return to school and society in order to heal."

Molly nodded, smiling at the boy through her tears. "Yes, you're right. When Draco showed up I actually saw Ginny smile."

Conrad cleared his throat. "I must be returning home," he said to the Weasley parents. "Anytime you need me, Draco, just floo me. You two should get some rest. There is no point in mulling over this any longer. You need to be strong for your daughter."

Ginny's mother nodded again, wiping her nose. Arthur Weasley waited until Conrad had gone before turning to Draco. "Even though we didn't win…we just want to give you our gratitude for what you did for Ginny."

Draco stared blankly at the wall. "I just wish I could have done more."

Mr. Weasley stood. "You did enough. Come, Molly, let's go to bed. You should too, Draco."

"Where are Ginny's brothers?" he asked suddenly, surprising them.

"I believe they're in Fred and George's room, dear. Why?" Molly asked.

"Thank you. Good night Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley." Draco headed back up the stairs to the second floor where Fred and George slept. He knocked on the door before entering without an invitation.

Ron, Fred, George, and Bill stood, the first to yell at him for barging in, the twins to make room for him on the bed, and the latter to shake hands with him. "We saw what you did for our sister, defending her from that creep Zabini. Thank you, Mal—Draco." Draco took his hand, grasping it firmly but silently. "You're one of us now. Brother." Bill gave him a smile, ignoring Ron's objections.

"Good. Then I trust what I have to tell you won't leave this room," Draco said cryptically.

Charlie lifted an eyebrow. "If you have a secret, you can rely on us to keep it."

Bill returned to his seat on the floor, glaring at Ron until the boy also sat. The twins listened closely, always excited by a conspiracy, though Draco noted that for the first time since he'd been here they weren't experimenting with new inventory for their shop. As he examined each of Ginny's brothers in turn (though only five were present, Percy Weasley could not be bothered to return home even for his sister's trial) he saw how each of them had been affected by the events of that night. Ron looked frazzled and confused, anger seeming to be his only emotion. Fred and George were for once silent and unmischievous. Charlie stared at the floor, his chin on his folded hands, his thoughts dark. Bill couldn't seem to stop fidgeting where he sat. "I…need your help with something," Draco said slowly. "I have plans…for Ginny's rapists."

They all perked up at the words, their attentions turning fully to Draco. "Go on," Charlie murmured. "What kind of plans?"

Draco leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling. He closed his eyes before whispering, almost to himself, "I plan to kill them all."

There was a long silence in the room before Ron stood, bursting out, "I knew it! I knew he was a good for nothing murdering Death Eater just like his fath—"

"Ron!" Bill's voice was harsh. "Shut up or leave."

"But—"

The man glared at his younger brother, silencing him immediately, before turning his attention back to Draco. "What can we do?"

Ginny sat up in bed with a gasp, her heart racing. Despite the cold that caused layers of snow to pile up on the ground outside, she was sweating. She pulled back her covers and immediately began to shiver as her wet skin was met with frigid air. She had been having another nightmare about them, the same as always, but this time they were mocking her, laughing at her for her pathetic attempt to bring them to justice. She could still feel the phantom sensations of helplessness and fear ghosting over her subconscious, but they passed quickly the longer she was awake.

Ginny stood, her feet touching the freezing floor, and grabbed a robe, wrapping it around herself. She tiptoed to the bathroom, not knowing what time it was or if anyone was still awake. It wasn't until she was done and heading back up to her room that she heard Draco's voice.

The girl paused at the bottom of the stairs, staring down into the dark hallway. She could see a light spilling out of Fred and George's room and a shadow occasionally pass by. Every once in a while another voice broke in, and she realized all of her brothers must be gathered in the room with Draco. Were they hurting him? Beating him up? He didn't sound distressed. The redhead silently crept to the bottom of the stairs and put her ear to the door, listening.

"We must make it look like an accident. That's imperative. They can't know that any of us are involved, especially not Ginny."

"How do we do that?" she heard Fred ask.

"They have to go one by one. Separately. The first one will catch their attention, by the second they'll start to be suspicious, and by the third they'll know what we're up to. So we must not give them any reason to suspect us."

"Who should go first?" that was Bill's voice.

"That Zabini creep. Definitely. Did you hear what he said to Ginny after the trial?" Ron's voice was bitter and his tone biting.

"No," Draco interjected. "No…I want to save him for last. I want him to know we're coming for him. I want him to be afraid of us."

"Then…Crabbe or Goyle?"

"Why not just kill them in alphabetical order?" George suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Fred intervened.

"Shouldn't Ginny have a say in this?" Charlie spoke up, his voice quiet.

"No. I don't want her to know anything about this," Draco answered.

"Why not?" Ginny pushed open the door, her hands on her hips. All of the boys stood at her entrance, staring at her with wide eyes. "Why can't Ginny know?"

Draco turned to her, his mouth open in surprise. "Ginny…how much did you hear?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Enough." Draco opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "I want to talk to you. Alone." She glared at the room full of her brothers. "Good night."

Draco followed her out into the hallway, closing the door behind him, and Ginny knew her brothers would be listening through it, at least Fred and George. "Ginny…" he whispered, holding out a hand to touch her. The hallway was dark and shadowy; the only light that spilled in was from the moon outside. Ginny turned away from Draco's touch, going to the window.

"Why are you keeping secrets from me, Draco?"

"I…I just wanted to protect you."

Her nails dug into her arm and her teeth gritted. "Protect me?"

He must have heard the warning signs in her voice, the tightly contained anger ready to explode. Draco put an arm on her waist to try to calm her. "I just…I thought after what happened…"

She turned to him, pushing her finger into his chest. "I grew up as the Golden Trio's third wheel, Draco. The younger sister of six siblings. My mother's only daughter. I have spent my entire life being coddled and protected and kept out of everything, and I'm sick of it. I am not a child, Draco. Do not treat me like one."

"I didn't mean to, Ginny," he whispered, taking her hand and kissing her palm. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just see you as so fragile, and can you blame me? The way you've been for the past six months? And…and I didn't want you to hate me."

Her anger deflated at the worry in his voice. She shook her head. "No. But I don't want you to exclude me from things, especially things like this, Draco. Like what you're talking about. It's…it's murder, Draco."

"I know. What would you like me to do, Ginny? How can I include you?"

"You can listen to me. You can do as I say," she said.

"What? Anything. I'd do anything for you, Ginny." The conviction in his voice was so strong she knew he was being completely honest with her.

She put her hands on either side of his face, staring up into his grey eyes sadly. "Don't go. Don't do this."

He stared at her in shock, as if he didn't believe what he was hearing. "Don't? Ginny…they raped you. They would have killed you."

"Yes, I know."

"They deserve as much pain as they can get," he said.

"I agree."

"They deserve to die." She nodded. "Then…what? Why don't you want me to kill them?" Ginny sighed, looking away. "What…are you mad because I dragged your brothers into this?"

The girl shook her head. "No. They're strong, they can watch out for themselves."

"Then…you don't…want me to be a murderer?" His eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "Are you afraid of me? Are you afraid that I'm capable of killing?"

"No. Of course not. I've always known that, Draco. I don't care."

"Then what? You don't want me to be like my father? Like a Death Eater?" he asked.

"No! You could never be like him, Draco."

"Why not? What is it, Gin? Ginny, please." He fell on his knees, his arms clenching around her midsection, his eyes staring up at her. "I need a reason. You know if you told me not to I couldn't go against your wishes but…but they hurt you. They should be punished. Please let me be the one to punish them. To ensure you your safety for the rest of your life and to allow me to enact my revenge. Please let me avenge you, Ginny, or at least tell me why I can not. Why you forbid me." He was begging her, actually on his knees pleading with her.

The girl stroked her boyfriend's silver hair soothingly. "I just…I don't want you to get caught, Draco. I don't want you to get hurt or worse, killed. If something were to happen to you…it would be all my fault. I couldn't live with myself." A few tears slipped out of her eyes, and she wiped them away harshly.

Draco rose up, kissing her lips gently. "Ginny…I won't get hurt, they will." He lifted a hand, running his thumb gently under her eyes, catching the stray tears.

"But if you—"

"I was raised by Death Eaters. Murderers. I know how to kill and not get caught. My father made my wand untraceable by the Ministry of Magic years ago, when I first started school. Even if they weren't already corrupt now and didn't care, they can't see the spells I cast." Draco shook his head, chuckling, though she didn't see what was so funny. "I can't believe that's all your worried about. And here I was afraid you would stop loving me if I became a killer."

"I could never stop loving you." She gasped as she realized her words, biting her bottom lip, but there was no taking back what she had said. Ginny buried her head in his shirt, hiding her face.

Draco chuckled, lifting her head so she had to meet his eyes. "Are you telling me you love me, Ginny Weasley?"

The redhead turned her face away in embarrassment. "You know that already."

"Yes, but I've never actually heard you say it."

The long minutes ticked by silently as she tried to work up the courage. Why couldn't she say it? Why couldn't she just spit it out? Three simple words. How hard was it to say three simple words? And yet, her mouth couldn't seem to form around them. She lost her voice. Her throat became dry and choked up and she forgot the words. She played them over and over in her head, but forcing them out was impossible. Finally, she whispered lamely, "I'm tired. I would like to go to bed."

Ginny's boyfriend sighed. "Alright, but that doesn't mean I'm forgetting about this. Do you want me to walk you back to your room and tuck you in?"

She nodded, and Draco led her back up the stairs to her bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed as Ginny crawled under the now cold covers. Draco stood to leave, but Ginny grabbed his hand. "Draco?"

"Yeah, Gin?"

"Stay with me tonight." He obliged, unable to resist her command, nor did he want to. Draco crawled under the covers with her, wrapping his arms around the small, frail girl. She cuddled up to him, sighing contently. "Draco, promise not to exclude me from things from now on."

"I promise, love. I will tell you everything. All of our plans. And whenever I go out to commit the deed, I will let you know beforehand…I'll even take you with me, if you wish."

She was quiet as she contemplated this, but then the girl shook her head. "No. I don't want to face them again. Just tell me where you're going when you leave and what happened when you get back. And…and promise to come back."

"I will always come back, Ginny. I swear it."

"And Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"I do…feel that way about you. You know that. I just don't…I don't know how to say it," she stammered.

"The first time's the hardest. After that it gets easier." He stroked her hair softly, lifting her chin. Draco brushed his lips softly against hers, closing his eyes as she kissed him gently and slowly. For minutes they lay there locked in an embrace, barely moving but for their lips, which teased each other's relentlessly. Finally, he pulled away, staring into her deep brown eyes, admiring the woman he adored. He could see the shadow of some internal struggle pass over her face. Her lips trembled, her cheeks were hot to the touch, her eyes locked with his, unable to look away. She opened her mouth to speak, emitting a few squeaks before she found her voice. "I…I…I…love…you." She whispered each word separately, testing the way they sounded on her tongue. The second time the phrase came out as a single sentence. "I love you, Draco."

He had heard this feeling described before but to truly experience it was so much different. He could actually feel his heart as a muscle swelling in his chest. His mind was filled with thoughts of her and only her. His entire body longed to be as close to hers as was physically possible. Draco pulled her against him tightly, kissing her forehead. "I know. I've always known."