GWDM

"Why wasn't I told?" I demanded, voice cracking.

"I was planning on telling you directly after we set it all up. Lupin was coming with me- and then Delacour happened to wonder aloud whether or not we should tell you at all. It ended up being a topic they wanted us to vote on… Kingsley put it up to vote, and the majority thought it would be better if we didn't tell you. They made us swear to it."

I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth. "Who voted to tell me."

Thank Merlin, he knew better than to avoid the answer. "I did, Granger did, Lupin, Tonks, Fred, George, and Hagrid."

I breathed in and out slowly through my nose, raising one hand to my temple. Other members aside, this meant that Charlie, Bill, Ron, Harry, Fleur, Kingsley, my Mum, and Dad had all voted to keep me in the dark… all people that knew me, that trusted me- people that I trusted.

"Why did they want me in the dark?" I whispered. I had meant to say it a lot stronger, but it had come out almost too quietly.

He sighed. "Some of it was logical. I'm a very accomplished Occulemens, Gin. Part of it was concern that he would use Legilimency on you and find out, which he can't do with me… and there wasn't enough time to teach you the strength you need in that skill to be safe from him."

"And the other piece?"

"Some of them thought your anxiety would be… an issue."

"Of course they did," I whispered. "Of course they did."

"I never flipped the coin, Gin."

I looked at him. I realized, looking in his eyes, that he was blaming himself- that he felt guilty for not acting before I made my choice.

"Draco, listen to me. You couldn't move. You were in a full body bind. They were about to kill you. You couldn't have flipped that coin. I made this decision on my own. If I had known about the plan things would've been different, but that isn't your fault, if anything, it's the Order's fault. Please don't blame yourself."

"If I had never started this…"

"Draco Malfoy, if you had never started this, I would still be broken and hating myself for being weak. You reminded me that I was strong enough to do things like this," I moved my arm. "For others, and that no matter how my family treats me, I can still save people. Don't tell me now, after everything we've been through, that you regret our relationship."

"No, no, Gin. Never. I never thought I'd feel what I feel for you. I love you, and the idea of losing you… I just wish this hadn't happened."

"No use," I replied. "It happened, now we just need to deal with it."

gwdmgwdmgwdmgwdmgwdmgwdm~~

After I'd eaten a bit more, and Draco had eaten a meal, I slid under his sheets and closed my eyes. He laid with me for a while, then said something about books, and got up. He rummaged for a while, and I heard the door close just as I drifted into sleep.

DMGW

I took all the books back to the library, and then went to my father's study. He wasn't in the room, but the fire was lit, so I leaned against the bookcase wall and waited.

Before long, he came in and closed the door, making his way to the desk without seeing me.

"Father," I said, stepping forward.

He spun. "Draco," he said.

"Ginny survived," I said, my voice hard. "Not that it matters to you."

"I don't see why the life of the blood traitor should matter to me."

"Because I love her. Because she matters to me, and I'm your son. She took the Mark to save my life, and she survived it when you thought she would die."

"The Mark doesn't change her blood. It doesn't make her suitable for you."

"She asked me to stop blaming myself for what happened, and I realized then that it isn't my fault. Someone had to tell him that Ginny was here with me. We were leaving. Someone must have really wanted to separate us for good if they were willing to tell the Dark Lord. And I think that person was you."

"Draco, you have no idea the depth of what you've gotten yourself into and the repercussions it will have on our family."

"You are not my family anymore," I said firmly. "I don't want any part of this, and I never did. I've watched too many people die. I've watched too many people scream while we do nothing about it. You would've let Ginny die, or let me die, to prevent a union you don't approve of. I'm done. Tell Mother that I love her."

I left, slamming the door. I went and fetched Ginny's dress and jewelry from the room she'd been in, then returned to my room and found Ginny fast asleep. I sealed the room off, then went in and started a shower.

Closing my eyes, I leaned against the wall and let the water run over me. I had nearly lost her. I had been so sure… but that had always been my mistake. I always underestimated Ginny Weasley.

The door opened, and I opened my eyes. She stood in front of me, just outside of shower, nothing but her bandage on. I pulled her to me gently, tilting her head up and leaning down to kiss her softly. Skin to skin, pressed together, I ran my hands down her body slowly, committing every curve to memory.

"I almost lost you," I murmured, as quietly as I could.

"I know," she said. "I almost lost me too."

Several minutes were lost in the hot water, just me holding her holding me. After a little while had passed, I washed my hair and body as she washed herself, and I watched her hesitate at the bandage.

"I'll wrap it again," I promised seriously.

Slowly, with a shaking hand, she unwrapped her forearm to reveal the black underneath. Against her pale skin, the Mark stood out with startling clarity… blacker than midnight on a snowy white background. I took her gently into my arms and held her, expecting her to cry, but she didn't. After a short hug, she simply pulled away and gently washed her arm, then looked up at me.

"I knew what I was doing," she promised me.

"What are we going to tell the Order?"

It startled me and gave me pleasure to see her usual fire flash across her eyes. "I'm going to demand they call a meeting, berate them for thinking they knew what I could handle, and show off my new tattoo. I'm not ashamed of saving our lives. You realize that if I'd been given a coin too, I could've flipped it easily while you were being questioned? Or before that, when your father was leading us away? This is all their fault. And I'm holding them responsible."

I smirked for the first time in over a week. "That's my girl."

"That's hot," she laughed, smirking back at me.

My voice changed as my body became tight with tension. "Mine," I restated, nearly growling.

Her eyes grew darker and her lips parted slightly. "Yours," she whispered, taking a step backwards and leaning against the wall. "All yours." She beckoned me with one finger.

It was all the cue I needed.

"Don't be nice," she moaned as I lifted her against the wall.

"I won't," I promised, as I pushed forward and made her groan my name.

~~dmgwdmgwdmgwdmgw~~

"I love you," I said again, even though she was asleep. I'd wrapped her arm back up for her and given her a pain potion, and she'd been out in no time.

I'd double checked everything. Anything I wanted was in Hermione's bloody bag, which had been delivered to me via owl while Ginny fought for her life. All of my personal possessions were accounted for and while I knew I would miss the Manor, I was done with this. I'd taken the time to transfigure some of my clothes to better fit Ginny, and in the morning, I was taking us back to the Burrow.