Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. I am however eating some uber amazing chicken as I type this!

Ok, I'm going to keep this author note short because I know that those of you who don't just skip the author notes are probably really wanting to read so… Yeah, I'm going to stop talking now. But first I wanted to thank all of you so very, very much for all of your wonderful reviews! And keep them up, they makes me happy!

Now we are FINALLY to the much awaited chapter. What will happen, you ask? Well why don't you just read and find out!

Without further ado:

Chapter 22

Draco POV

It was December first. The Christmas decorations going up by the minute really put sadness in my heart. It reminded me of Ginny. It had been close to Christmas when I gave Ginny the necklace last year. I meant what I said when I told her that I intended to make her a Malfoy one day. But like always, some things are forced to change. I still wanted that, but at this rate, it wouldn't happen. I wouldn't let it. I would not put her in further danger. I'd done enough to hurt her.

Part of me wished she would be able to move on. She could have the family I knew she wanted. She would be able to get married and have little redheads running around calling her Mum. I could see it in her eyes when she talked about her family that she wanted one of her own. It made me smile, thinking about the mini Ginny's running around. But I knew it would never happen with me, thus the smile disappearing.

The other part of me wanted to go up to her and just kiss her senseless. That part wanted to apologize for everything I did and explain to her that I never meant to hurt her. I wanted to scream from the top of the astronomy tower that I loved her, that I loved Ginny Weasley. But this would never happen. I couldn't do that. The first part, no matter how painful, was the one I had to choose.

As I walked my rounds late that night, Ginny was at the forefront of my mind. I wondered what she was doing. I had seen her go into the library earlier. I wondered what she was working on. I smiled as I remembered that first day I helped her with her potions homework. It was the first time she called me Draco. Warmth spread through me at the memory. It was really a happy memory. Her soft voice saying my name just had a sense of rightness about it.

I sighed and went up the flight of stairs to the first floor. I wanted to be done with my rounds soon so I could get back to my privet dormitory where I could be alone with my thoughts, my depression. I had been tipped off to some prank that Longbottom and some other Gryffindors were planning on doing tonight but I purposely stayed away from that part of the castle. It was technically part of my rounds so I didn't have to worry about Daphne Greengrass, the Head Girl, or any of the prefects coming across them.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice the distressed redhead running full out towards me until she ran into me. I stumbled and caught myself against the wall. I stood strait again and looked down to see none other than Ginny Weasley sprawled on the ground at my feet. She hadn't noticed it was me yet from the look on her face. Tears stained her cheeks as she sobbed. She had a panicked look on her face as if she were running for her life. She obviously hadn't noticed me anymore than I had noticed her before she ran into me.

She looked up at me after a second and whatever she had intended on saying, got stuck in her throat. Her look of panic didn't disappear as she gazed silently up at my face. We stood, or in her case sat, like that for an immeasurable amount of time just looking at each other. Her sobs were the only noise around us. Finally though, I snapped out of it.

I had a decision to make, one that had the potential to change both of our lives. I didn't know what or who she was running from, but some part of me guessed it was the Carrows. It seemed I had failed in my quest to keep her safe from them. If I helped her now then my feeling would come out in the open, to her at least. She would become part of my life again, and in danger.

Or I could walk away right now and pretend this never happened. I could continue to keep her safe by acting like I hated her, like nothing had ever happened between us. But looking down at her tearstained, terrified face, I knew I wouldn't be able to just walk away from her this time. I needed her just as much as she needed me. It was then, in that cold, deserted corridor while she sat crying on the floor, that I realized that she was truly the only one for me. She was the one, my soul mate. And I couldn't just walk away anymore.

I quickly knelt down in front of her. "Ginny," I said softly, catching a tear as it slid down her face. "Ginny I know I have so much to explain and we really need to talk but right now just tell me what happened to you. Who are you running from?" I let my fingers slowly trace her cheek comfortingly. It fell so right, to be this close to her.

The panic in her eyes dimmed but her sobbing increased. She sat up more and threw her arms around me. "Oh Draco!" she cried as she clung to me. I just held her, giving her a moment to cry. I felt like crying too, but with joy. I wasn't sure what her tears were for anymore. Were they tears of joy or of fear or relief?

"Ginny," I said soothingly as I held her too me, one arm around her waist the other stroking her fiery hair. "Ginny tell me what happened. Why were you running?" I continued to hold her to me as her sobbing, if not stopped, died down a bit.

Finally she found her voice and, her head still on my shoulder, she said, "The Carrows." Her voice was so quiet and it trembled as she spoke. And as if finally snapping out of something, she let go and looked into my eyes, hers terrified once again. "They c-can't find me! I can't go through t-that again. Please D-Draco, help me! Don't let them find me. I have to hide. I c-can't let them find me!" She started sobbing in earnest as she spoke.

"It's going to be alright. Come on Ginny. I'll help you, I'll always help you. I promise," I said as I helped her to her feet. Those words held a lot of meaning. She nodded quickly and stood shakily. "Let's get to my dormitory." Once she was firm on her own feet, I took her small, warm hand in mine and started running. If the Carrows were after her, it was only a matter of time before they found her. If I could get her to my dormitory, she would be safe. I was the only one who knew how to get it, other than Blaise, not even the Carrows knew.

She glanced at my face as we ran. Her eyes were hopeful, as if she couldn't believe what was happening. I didn't blame her. We ran up to the second floor and down the left side of the hall. When we got to a portrait of a plump, old man eating chicken, I stopped. The man in the portrait smiled down at me and swallowed the mouthful of chicken. "Password?" he asked, curiosity in his eyes as he looked down at Ginny. It figured I would get the curious old man for my dormitory door keeper.

"Portkey," I said impatiently as he nodded and swung back, opening into a small, dimly lit, bare room. I stepped up into the room and pulled Ginny in after me. Once the portrait closed I walked over to the far left wall and pulled out my wand. I gently ran it along the wall and then did the same on the right. Then I went to the far wall and traced my wand around the center brick. I then stood back as a door formed in the wall in front of me. I heard Ginny walk up behind me. I turned towards her and took her hand. "This is my dormitory," I said as I opened the door.

Ginny POV

I can't believe this is happening, I thought to myself as Draco stood in front of me in that small room. He ran his wand along both the right and left walls. Then he went to the back wall and traced a brick. I slowly walked towards him as a door appeared on the wall in front of him. I felt his hand gently take mine as he said, "This is my dormitory." The door swung open and Draco led me into a large room. The door closed behind us and I looked around.

The walls were a dark green and the trim was silver. On the back wall there was a window seat looking out over the lake. I had to hold back tears as I noticed our tree in the distance. I wanted to laugh at the irony that his Head Boy room looked over that spot we sat at so many nights last year. It was hard to believe it was really a year ago.

The padding on the window seat was the same green as the walls with silver pillows. The seat was large enough for someone to sleep on comfortably. There was a silver blanket draped over the seat too. I smiled, wondering how many nights Draco had fallen asleep gazing at our tree.

Next to the window was a rich mahogany desk next to it strewn with parchment, ink wells, and quills. The desk had a built-in bookshelf type thing piled with books. The chair was a tall, wingback chair upholstered in the same dark green with silver trim. The wood of it was the same as the desk. Next to the desk was a tall floor lamp. It was silver except the shade that was green. On the wall with the door there were two ceiling height mahogany bookshelves that covered the walls and were filled with books.

On the left wall there was a huge fireplace with a blazing fire. The mantle was the same mahogany as the rest of the wooden things. In front of the fire were a long couch and two comfortable looking chairs. They were both green with silver trim. There was another sliver blanket draped over the back of the couch. The floor was the really soft green carpet that you just seemed to sink into. On the right wall were two doors.

I glanced over at Draco, who had just stood there silently while I took everything in. "This place is amazing. It's so perfect. Well, as perfect as it can be when everything is in green and sliver," I said jokingly. I smiled and giggle as I looked over at him.

His face lit up with such an amazing smile that it took my breath away. He was so perfect. I looked down at my feet. My worn sneakers could be seen popping out from under my robes. It didn't fit with the lush carpet. He might be perfect, but I was far from it. I sighed softly. Was this really happening? I couldn't help but wonder. How was it that everything could be so horrid one moment, but the next it was like heaven?

I felt his fingers under my chin, making me look up at him. "Ginny?" I met his eyes as he gazed down at me. "Are you okay? Did the Carrows hurt you?"

I nodded and whispered, "The Cruciatus curse. But I'm fine now. I-I just can't face that again." My voice cracked and I buried my face against his chest. I fought tears back as is arms wrapped around me. I took a deep breath, breathing in his distinct smell. I really missed him so much. It felt so right to be in his arms again.

To soon though he let go and led me to the couch. He sat down and pulled me down onto his lap. I tried to squirm off, feeling my weight might be too much, but he just tightened his hold on my waist. I just sighed and settled into his embrace. "I won't let anything happen to you Ginny. Don't worry." His lips gently brushed my neck. I shivered.

"But when I go back they'll get me," I whispered sadly. I couldn't face that, but I didn't really have a choice. I stifled a new wave of tears; I had cried a lot that day.

"Then you won't go back," he said firmly. I turned enough to see his face, a look of firm resolution in place. "I won't let them hurt you. If you go back to class or wander the halls or anything, then they will get you. I'm not going to lie to make you feel better. They would probably kill you for escaping them. I can't let that happen. I won't." His voice sounded strangled as he said that. He pushed the hair of my face, gently tucking it behind my ear.

How was it that just earlier that day he was acting like he hated me? "But what else can I do?" I asked in a small voice. Against my will, a tear fell. I buried my face against his shoulder.

"You'll stay here," he said in a gentle but firm voice.

I sniffled and looked back up at him. "What?" I asked confused.

"You can stay here. Really it's a good idea. The Carrows can't get in here. The only people besides me that know how to get in are Blaise, and now you. Nobody even knows where this room is. The Head Boy and Girl choose the place for their dormitory and they design it. They also get to choose the way to get in. There is no way that anyone can get to you in here. You'll be safe with me," he explained quietly.

"But what about school? What would people think if I just disappeared? Everyone would worry," I questioned quickly.

"Don't you understand? If you leave they will kill you," he said in a soft voice. "Your live is more important than school. Classes are easily made up. As for your friends, I'm not sure." He kissed the back of my neck softly. "You are more important to me than anything else in the world and I won't risk losing you. I've come to close to losing you too many times before."

I was lost for words. I simply nodded. It really was the only way that I could survive right now. And, if I admitted it to myself, I was quickly growing fond of the idea of living in the same dormitory as Draco. I wondered idly where I would sleep. The window seat looked amazingly comfortable.

Draco shifted and slid me off his lap and onto the couch next to him. He took both my hands in his and faced me on the couch. "I know I have a lot to explain. But just know, everything I did was to protect you."

"Plotting Dumbledore's death behind my back while you were with me was for my own good?" I asked, trying not to put too much of a biting edge on my words but it was inevitable. That had really hurt me. "Then you went off and started acting like you hated me again Draco. You really hurt me. I almost every day since that night I've been depressed. I cried myself to sleep every night." Tears rolled down my face but I didn't care.

"Ginny," Draco said softly as he brushed my tears away. "If I hadn't followed the Dark Lords orders and tried to kill Dumbledore then he would have killed me, my mother, and you if he had found out about you. I regret what I did every second of every day. I regret that I hurt you so badly that night. I hid it from you so I wouldn't hurt you more. But, up on that tower, I realized that I couldn't kill him. I didn't have it in me. I'm not like that. I was lowering my wand when Snape killed him. I know it's my fault still, but please understand that I regret it."

I could feel the tears flowing in earnest down my face. He gave my hands a squeeze and kept talking. "I had to keep up the pretence of hating you for your own safety. I failed the Dark Lord and he was not happy, to say the least." His eyes took on a faraway look and he shivered slightly. "The only reason he didn't kill me was because, even if I didn't kill Dumbledore myself, it was because of me he was dead. He got close to killing me though." His eyes closed for a second and he took a deep breath.

"But he still wasn't pleased with me," he continued, opening his eyes and boring into mine. "He looked for ways to hurt me. My mother was tortured because of me. But she is one of his servants, so he didn't kill her. But if he had found out about you, or even just guessed or speculated, he wouldn't have hesitated to have you killed. That's why I acted the way I did. I hurt me every second to see the hurt in your eyes. But trust me when I say that I had to."

I nodded, unable to speak through my tears. It made sense now. He never hated me. It was all just a charade. I felt like dancing for joy, or just crying with happiness. I threw my arms around him and gave a strangled laugh. "You have no idea how much I've dreamt of you saying those words."

He laughed too and just held me to him for what felt like an eternity. It was amazing. Finally though, he pulled away and asked, "Would you like to see the rest of your new home then?" His eyes were bright and a smiled graced his perfect lips.

"Of course!" I said with laugh. It was amazing that I could be so happy now but only an hour ago I was running for my life in a blur of panic and depression. He got up and practically pulled me up too. I took his hand and he led me to the doors on the right side of the room. The one closest to the back wall was the one he opened first.

"This is my room," he said as he led me in to a big room. It wasn't as big as the front room but it was still big. The carpet and walls were the same as the front room. Against the left wall, there was a huge bed with dark green sheets but silver pillows and a sliver comforter. It was a four-poster bed like mine but the drapes on this one were silver and still tied to each post. On either side of it were mahogany end tables. They both had silver lamps with green shades.

Across from the bed on the other side of the room was rich mahogany dresser. There was a door next to it that I expected led to a closet. On the back wall was another window seat. The forest was visible in the moonlight. This window seat was like the other but the blanket on it was still folded neatly. I smiled softly and looked out the window. It was a really a beautiful night. I turned to see Draco watching me.

"Do you like it?" he asked with a smile as he walked towards me. His arms wrapped around my waist and he kissed my forehead.

"I love it. That bed looks amazing. I bet you just sink right into it," I said with a happy sigh. I laughed to myself and pulled out of his embrace. He glanced confused at me for a second before I ran to the bed and jumped on it. I laughed aloud and flopped back on it. "It is amazing!"

Draco just started laughing. "Only you, my Ginny, would do that," he said between laughs.

I giggled and said, "Not really. You obviously don't know the girls in my dormitory very well. Let's say this is a habit I picked up." I started laughing again. After a second I sighed happily and closed my eyes. The bed really was like lying on a cloud. It was so soft.

Suddenly I felt Draco on the bed next to me. I smiled and rolled towards him. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me against him. I sighed contently and looked up at his face, so close to mine. His eyes seemed to darken as he leaned towards me. "I love you Ginny," he whispered softly before finally kissing me on the lips.

The kiss was neither demanding nor hurried. It was soft, gentle, and slow. My hands rested on his chest as our lips moved together. I felt him pull me closer. When we pulled apart I whispered breathlessly, "I love you too Draco."

Yay for a Draco/Ginny moment! Ok that was more than a moment; that was a whole chapter of nothing but pure Draco/Ginny amazingness. It makes the amazingness of the chicken I'm eating pale in comparison. And if you read the top author note you would know what I'm talking about. Yay for Wal-Mart brand chicken chuncks! Lol.

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