Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series… Sadly… Why do I always have to admit this failure? WHY DO YOU I HAVE TO-

Brain: Shut up.

Me: BE NICE! I'M HAVING AN EMOTIONAL MLETDOWN!

Brain: I don't care. I just want to read this chapter, not listen to you whine about how your life sucks and you'll never be J. K. Rowling.

Me: For a brain, you're not very nice!

Brain: And you have conversations with other brains? Are you cheating on me with another brain?

Me: *sigh* No... Does that make you feel better?

Brain: Very. *smug smile*

Me: *roll eyes* My brain is a drama queen…

OKAY! Now onto other things! I know I'd neglected you for so long and I just felt so bad that I felt compelled to put another chapter up so soon! I was debating on waiting for a week or so just in case writers block kidnaps me again but I figured I'd rather give it to you know in an attempt to make up to you for my long absence.

I won't drone on and on in this author not like usual so…

Without further ado:

Chapter 36

Ginny POV

When I opened my eyes at first the only things I could see through the thick darkness were the vague outline of trees. It was so dark that not even the moonlight could reach. I could tell I was somewhere deep in a forest. I held up my wand and with a flick of my wrist and the area around me was thrown into light.

Before my eyes, two giant trees seemed to be getting pushed apart. Between the trees, a small cottage seemed to appear from nowhere. I knew enough to know that this place was protected by the Fidelius charm. Once fully there, the cottage, though small, looked very homey. I could see no light coming from inside but I held onto the hope that Draco was already here.

I wasted no time to really take in my surroundings but went straight to the door of the small stone cottage with the thatched roof. I hesitated only for a second before opening the weathered door. Inside was dark as could be so I lifted my wand to shed light on my surroundings. It looked bigger inside then it did from the outside.

The wall across from the door was a huge bookshelf, except for the small window that looked out into the forest. In front of it were two reading chairs and a small sofa. On the left wall was a huge bed, looked like a king-size, that looked very similar to the one that had been in Draco's dorm. The only difference was that instead of green and silver, this bed was a deep midnight blue and silver.

On either side of the bed there were end tables with a window above each. The drapes on every window matched the blue of the bed as did the chairs and sofa. Across from the bed was a huge fireplace. There was already wood in the fireplace but it looked to have been there for a while. There was also a door on each side of the fireplace.

I walked into the cottage and closed the door. It was very obvious nobody had been here in a while. It looked to be recently decorated though, and left alone after. My heart sank when I realized Draco hadn't made it. But I held onto the hope that he was simply late.

I sighed and flicked my wand, starting a fire in the fireplace, before setting it down on one of the bedside tables. The cottage was filled with the soft flickering light from the fire. I smile, it was very cozy. From the outside, the cottage looked old and rundown but inside it was beautiful.

I walked to the first door, the one closest to the front door, and cautiously opened it. The light from the fireplace didn't do much to illuminate the room but I could see enough to tell it was a bathroom. From what I could see, the color scheme was much the same as the main room.

I closed the door and moved to the other one. This one held a small kitchen. I smiled and went to grab my wand again. Walking into the kitchen, I flicked my wand and several lamps lite up. Like I first noticed, it was small but very quant. There was a small table in the middle of the room with two chairs. Cabinets lined the back wall and in the middle was a sink. I set the bag I'd brought with me on the table and walked back out into the main room.

I sighed when I saw that there was still no sign of Draco. I looked at the clock above the mantle and saw that it was already nearly twelve thirty. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. I was exhausted. I slowly walked over to the luxurious bed and sat on the edge. I kicked off my shoes and lay down facing the door. I didn't realize when I'd fallen asleep.

Draco POV

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity and constant pain. Now that I was officially a Death Eater, I was more involved in the planning that I was before. I had to sit through hour after hour of the Dark Lord talking about what he wanted to accomplish and how he wanted to conquer the rest of the wizarding world. We discussed plan after plan and scheduled raids. There was a lot more to this than many imagined.

The only break that was taken was when my mother sent the house elves in with supper. Then it was back to the meeting. Many of the things they talked about were absolutely horrible but I most of it didn't faze me much. I'd grown up hearing about this kind of stuff from my father and the past few years, though I hadn't been as active as now, I'd been through meetings like this. It was fairly boring, helping me to keep my mask in place. For all everyone saw, I was thrilled with this new change in position. I sat proudly at my father's side. I was happy to be a Death Eater, or so it seemed.

It was almost two in the morning when I finally made my way back to my wing of the manor. My arm was still painful from where the dark mark and been burned into my skin. Once safely behind the closed door, I let out a long sigh. Today had been a very trying day.

I had finally done what I'd dreaded doing. I'd killed and become an official Death Eater all in one night. I was disgusted with myself for what I'd done. But I knew I had done what, in the long run, would be the right choice. I had to gain the Dark Lord's trust and become one of his minions.

I rested my hand against my forearm and could feel warmth from the mark through my robes. It was nearly as dark now as when it was first put there, but slowly it was fading. After a few days the mark and pain would be all but gone unless the Dark Lord called upon us with it. The mark would still be there no matter what, faintly visible at the very least. I would wear this mark the rest of my life.

I felt like collapsing on my bed and sleeping for days, but that was out of the question. Last night at the battle I gave Ginny the location of my secret sanctuary. It was a small place that Blaise and I would run off to when we were children and wished to escape for a while. It wasn't until a few years back though that we put upon it every protective spell we could think of.

I looked at the clock above the mantle. It was already a little past two in the morning. I promised Ginny to meet her there tonight at midnight and now I was very late. After quickly changing out of my Death Eater robes, I walked down the hallway to the balcony I hadn't set foot on in so long. I swung open one of the doors and stepped out into the warm night.

The last of the other Death Eaters were gone and my mother and father retired for the night. I had no idea where the Dark Lord was. It was hard to imagine him sleeping peacefully in bed.

I shook my head and closed the door. It would do me no good to ponder on such things as the Dark Lord taking a nap. I walked over to the side of the balcony and took out my wand. Only the Malfoy family could apparate to and from the grounds of the manor. Within the walls it was impossible though. But the best part was the fact that, if it was a Malfoy attempting to apparate, it was untraceable. I lifted my wand and apparated to the familiar spot.

Once there, I saw the cottage was already lite up with the warm glow of a fire. I felt relived, for that meant Ginny was already here. But, on the other hand I felt bad for having kept her waiting for so long. I didn't waste time before going inside.

What awaited my eyes made me smile. Ginny, my wonderful, sweet, loving Ginny, was curled up in a ball on the side of the bed. The pain in my arm and all over the rest of me became insignificant as I walked over to the bedside and stared down at my beautiful girlfriend. I'd always found it odd, calling her my girlfriend. It didn't feel like a strong enough word to describe what we had. My soul mate perhaps?

I shook my head with a smile. None of that mattered now. What mattered now was the fact that we'd be together, if only for a few hours. I discarded my shoes beside hers and walked around to the other side of the bed. She didn't even stir when I lay down next to her and pulled her into my arms. I didn't want to wake her up, she was sleeping so peacefully. But, I knew she'd be mad if I didn't.

"Ginny," I whispered in her ear as I held her close to me. "Ginny, wake up."

She sighed softly in her sleep and curled closer to me, a smile gracing her face, but she didn't wake. She must have been as exhausted as I was. Even now, I could feel that having Ginny back in my arms and this comfortable bed was putting me to sleep too.

Determined to wake her up and not fall asleep myself, I rolled over to hover above her sleeping form and whispered her name again. Still no reaction, other than a smile. So I did the one thing that always woke her up. I kissed her.

My lips settled softly on hers and within moments I could feel her responding to me. "Draco," she sighed into the kiss as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulling me closer to her.

I laughed softly and broke the kiss, staring down at her. "Bout time you woke up, sleepyhead," I whispered against her lips.

"Hmm," she sighed, "but then I wouldn't have gotten such a good wakeup call." Her delighted giggle was music to my ears.

I rolled over and pulled her against my side, just enjoying the feeling of her body against mine. She rested her head on my shoulder and looked up at me, a smile on her face. I kissed her nose and we both laughed. If only this moment could last forever. I sighed and closed my eyes. But too so I'd have to tell her about today. I'd have to tell her about my dark mark.

She curled against my side and sighed with contentment. We lay there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms. After a moment she moved a bit and happened the bump my left arm where the dark mark was hidden beneath the sleeve of my long-sleeved black shirt. I hissed in pain before I could stop myself.

"Draco, what's wrong?" she asked, sitting up suddenly.

One look at her beautiful face I knew I had to tell her. She looked really worried and almost in pain herself because she knew I hurt. But I just wasn't sure how to tell her. "Ginny…" I started but trailed off, not sure how to say it.

She sat cross-legged beside me looking down at me with a worried expression. "Draco, what is it?"

Seeing no other way, I sat up and moved directly in front of her. I sighed softly as I held my left arm out in front of me. I slowly started to roll the sleeve up. Inch by inch I rolled it up until the entire mark was reviled. The cottage was deathly silent. I didn't want to look up and see Ginny's reaction. Suddenly I felt her fingers gently touching my arm.

Glancing up at her, I was relieved to see she didn't look angry or disappointed. She only looked sad. "Oh Draco," she said softly. Then she climbed up onto my lap and curled against me. "Tell me what happened." She held my left arm in her lap, her fingers gently tracing the mark that I hated so much.

I wrapped my other arm around her and lay my head down on her shoulder, kissing her neck softly before beginning. "After the battle last night, the Dark Lord thought it was time to take a firmer hand. He demanded I show him my loyalty. I was given no choice; no place to run." I stopped, unsure of how much of this Ginny would be able to handle.

"It's okay, Draco," Ginny whispered softly as she stroked my arm, easing the pain of the mark in a way. "You can tell me anything."

And so I did. "I had to take the mark. It was that or be killed. I couldn't let myself be killed. I told you I'd always come back to you and that is a promise I intend to keep, Ginny." I paused and took a breath before continuing. "After we got back from the failed raid, all of us were punished. It was then that he told me I'd be taking my mark in the morning. Every Death Eater that could be there was there. It was a momentous occasion in their eyes. My rite of passage you could say. I was to finally take my place among them."

I shook my head slightly, tightening my grip on Ginny as I spoke. "I didn't want to Gin. I was scared. To get the mark one has to pass a test the Dark Lord commands. If you don't pass, or refuse to do it, he'll kill you. When my father brought me before the Dark Lord, a woman was brought out too. I was told to kill her. I had to kill Ginny!"

I felt the emotion of that deed well up inside of me. All I wanted to do was forget that ever happened. Ginny turned in my lap and let my arm go, wrapping her arms around my neck and holding me to her. I tried not to cry but the tears came unbidden. My body shook with silent sobs as I let out the grief caused by what I'd done.

It was the second time she'd seen me cry. She was the only one I could let myself do it with. I knew she wouldn't judge. And so, I let my grief out before finally letting go of her. I looked up into her beautiful brown eyes I saw she had wept too. Somehow, that eased the pain.

She lay her head down on my chest and picked my hand up, holding in it in hers small ones. She didn't say a word. I was glad. These times where I lost control like that always left me feeling embarrassed. I hated to feel weak like that. "And then he burned the mark into my skin," I said softly, continuing.

"Did it hurt badly?" she asked quietly from my lap. Her hand ran back up my arm to gently touch the dark mark. So soft was the caress that I could barely feel it.

"Yes, it was like being branded. In a way I was," I said honestly. I would keep nothing from her.

She was silent for a few minutes and I was content just to hold her to me. After a while, I thought she might have fallen asleep. When I pushed her hair from her face I could see she had. I smiled softly and lifted her from my lap and settled her on the bed beside me. As I was lying down next to her I heard her soft whisper, "Who was she, Draco?"

I closed my eyes briefly before saying in a strained voice, "I'm not sure, Ginny."

She nodded slightly and rolled over and curled up against my chest. She was asleep within seconds. I fought sleep myself in favor of watching her. I didn't want to close my eyes. I knew I wouldn't get to see her much and I wanted this moment to last as long as possible. I lay there for an hour, just watching her sleep. But too soon I looked at the clock and noticed it was four thirty.

I sighed and shook Ginny gently awake. "Come on, Gin. You have to wake up now," I said softly as her eyes fluttered open.

She yawned and stretched like a cat in my arms. She reminded me of the cat I'd gotten her from Christmas, Amour. I smiled at the memory. She loved that thing so much. I was glad I'd thought to get it. "Do I have to?" she grumbled sleepily.

"You need to get back in your own bed before you're parents wake up," I murmured softly as I pushed the hair out of her face before kissing her. She responded eagerly and soon she was wide awake. I smirked against her lips before breaking the kiss. "You feel for it."

"Fell for what?" she asked innocently.

I shrugged and said, "You didn't want to wake up, so I made you want to." I smiled a smug smile as she playfully slapped my arm.

"You sneaky devil you," she laughed as she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. I stood up and walked around to grab her shoes from beside the fireplace. "Thanks," she said, taking them and slipping them on.

I pulled her too her feet and kissed her once again. I felt like I could never seem to kiss her enough. "You should go, before you're parents wake," I said with a regretful sigh.

"Yeah, I know," she stalled, hugging me again. "There's a bag on the kitchen table with some food and first aid things. I'll leave that here. The food should keep a while, Mum made it. She uses an unspoiling charm on all her food so it won't go bad. As for the first aid, it's always good to have some around. I'll bring more things next time too."

She frowned and looked down, not happy about having to leave me. She didn't seem like she could let go of me. But, then again, I was holding onto her as tightly as she was me. Then I remembered something I'd meant to tell her. "Tell your order to be at Clovelly at three in the morning Saturday. There's another raid."

"Okay," she whispered against my chest. "I will."

We stood there for quite a while longer, neither willing to move. Finally the clock struck five. "You need to go," I said softly, not wanting this moment to end.

She nodded and finally pulled away from me. "I love you, Draco," she said in a soft voice.

I put my lips to hers once more before whispering, "I love you too, Gin." With a final kiss, she walked out the door and into the still dark forest. She walked a little ways away before lifting her wand and turning on the spot. With a crack she was gone. I walked over to the spot she'd disapparated from to make sure she hadn't splinched and left anything behind. Thankfully there was nothing but leaves.

Finally, I turned and locked the door of the cottage with a flick of my wand before turning on the spot and going back to the manor.

I hope this more than makes up for my long neglect. Please, let me know if you liked it! I tried my best to portray them both as accurately as possible. I hope you liked the fact most of this was from Draco's POV because I normally do their sweet and tender moments from Ginny's POV because I know the girl prospective pretty well. Did I do okay?

Again, please feed BJ! He's very happy with the quick turnout of the few reviews I got from the last chapter but now I'm intent of fattening this little guy up. So, leave a review and let's get some meat on BJ's bones!

And remember, a happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me (and BJ) happy!