Prompt: 37; Home

Word Count: 301

Pairing: Draco/Ginny

For everyone (aka Sarah) who asked for a sequel to 'Bed', here you go.

Home is Where the Heartless Is

-x-

You swallowed everything, like distance.

Like the sea, like time. In you everything sank!

It was the happy hour of assault and the kiss.

The hour of the spell that blazed like a lighthouse.

-x-

'I'm sick of this!'

Draco looked up from his papers at Ginny's exclamation. She had slammed her hands on the table, over today's copy of the Daily Prophet that they continued to receive even though they were on the run. Ginny had protested that she wanted to know what was going on back home despite the risk it posed.

Draco rose from the chair and removed his glasses before turning to confront his irate wife. He couldn't pretend he hadn't seen this coming. She rounded on him with fire in her eyes and he waited for her to continue.

'I hate this - running and hiding like cowards,' she went on. 'People are dying, Draco. I can't just stay out of it – it's my home.' Her voice broke on the last word and Draco could see that she wanted to cry. She didn't, but some days he wondered if she would always be this strong and what he would do if she ever broke down. Pushing those thoughts aside he moved toward her, pulling her to his chest as he wrapped his arms around her slight frame. They'd lost so much weight these past months.

He rested his chin on top of her head as a dozen responses flitted across his mind. What should he do? Remind her that this had been her choice as much as his? Tell her there was no way they could be together if they went back now? That she would probably die and he would probably be responsible? Draco had always been a selfish git, and this was no time to start changing his spots.

'It's my home, too,' he murmured into her hair.

She tightened her fists against the back of shirt and whispered heartbreakingly against his shoulder.

'I just want to go back.'

A/N: Yeah, I'm putting these at the end now. The quote is from Pablo Neruda's A Song of Despair, not only because I like Pablo Neruda but also because his poems pretty much fit this entire 'verse. (I have different poems relating to each character. Shoot me now).

Also: You have no idea how much this particular prompt arrangement (37, 38, 39) bugs me. :|The 'Make Draco Jealous' arc thing resumes tomorrow.