A/N: My theory is that if I keep posting, it will force me to finish this. So here's another chapter.

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The Safe House

Chapter Six

Over the next few weeks, the two former rivals adjusted to a peaceful routine. After Draco had given his wand to Ginny, she had immediately repaired and altered her clothes. After noticing her wearing the same items several times, he gave her some of his own clothing to add to her meagre wardrobe. He always had been ready to run whilst working as a double agent. He had brought quite a lot of clothes, books, and other personal items when he arrived at Spinner's End that night so long ago. Severus had also been bringing him more supplies each time he would visit.

They had a silent agreement that Severus would not be mentioned. Ginny could see the pain in his eyes whenever she referenced her former professor. Draco knew she felt guilty for her role in the death of his godfather. He still would dream about him though. It was always one of those dreams where you couldn't get to what you were running towards. He would just keep running and trying to stop the Dark Lord, but he never could save Severus. One night as he woke up, he could have sworn he had felt a gentle caress over his forehead. Ginny never acted any different the next day, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know that she had watched him as he suffered in his sleep. On the first of April, he had found her sitting outside in the cold with tears running down her face. She had smiled and said that it was George and Fred's birthday. He had heard that her brother was killed at Hogwarts. Her brother Fred became another topic that was rarely brought up.

He actually was very glad to have her there. The chores were now shared, and her cooking was superior to his attempts in the kitchen. It hadn't taken her long to realize that doing things the Muggle way helped to keep them busy. He had finally been able to question her about what had happened in the war since he had been in hiding. Sometimes they would talk about meaningless things, and a very few times, they talked about their childhoods. Her large family fascinated him. He could tell that she enjoyed hearing him talk about his mother and how special she was to him. More than having a companion, he was secretly glad that they couldn't escape before the Dark Lord was defeated, even if that was a very long time coming. He was a wanted man by both sides. The Ministry was convinced he was a murdering Death Eater, and Voldemort knew he had helped Pansy escape. Potter, of course, could vouch for him, but he didn't think that was high on his to-do list. Severus had locked him away in this house in order to keep him safe. He felt like a coward, but he also was grateful to be alive and somewhat relieved to be out of the double agent business.

ooo

One afternoon, Ginny was getting restless, and after making herself a sandwich, she decided to join Draco in the office. "Do you realize that I have been here for five weeks now? Malfoy? Are you listening to me? I have been here for five weeks." She looked very proud of herself as she ate her lunch. Draco looked up from the book he was reading.

"Yes, Weasley, I hear you. Five weeks. I am in awe of your ability to survive in a house with an evil Slytherin for five long weeks. It makes my eight months in here seem like child's play." His voice had taken on the full Malfoy drawl and was accompanied by what Ginny had dubbed the Living-With-A-Silver-Spoon-Stuck-Up-Your-Arse-Your Entire-Life Smirk. She was still working on that.

She rolled her eyes. "Har, har, har."

"Was there a point to this announcement?" This came from behind the book.

"Oh, yes. I'm bored. We barely speak to each other except to cook or clean or work outside. I guess… I am asking for a truce." She sat forward and placed her empty plate on the desk. She flashed him, or more accurately his book, a brilliant smile.

"A truce? I didn't realize that we were fighting. In fact, I think a good fight would be rather entertaining. Yes. Fighting would definitely be an improvement and would alleviate your boredom in my presence." He looked at her very seriously over the top of his book for a moment before resuming his reading.

"I don't know if you are being sarcastic or not. …Malfoy, I'm being serious. Maybe we could invent a new potion. That would be interesting."

Nothing.

"Malfoy?"

Nothing.

"Malfoy!"

Nothing.

Nothing.

"Fine!" She jumped up from her chair reached across the desk and ripped the book from his hands. She gave him a triumphant smirk. That's it - The Smirk of Triumph. After a moment of self-congratulations on finally naming the famous smirk, she turned quickly and ran to the front door and proceeded to open said door and hurled the annoying book into the front yard. She stood at the door, watching it bounce just past the invisible barrier.

"That was my mother's book, Weasley. My mother's book that you just tossed outside." His voice was very cold coming from the other room, as he had not followed her to the door.

He had decided to let her have her fit so then he could hold it over her head. See, I do listen. I bet she's not bored now. When he heard the sound of the door shut and she did not return, he let out a laugh and then waited for her to come crawling back. After five more minutes, he looked out the front window and did not see her anywhere. Against his better judgement, he went to the front door and stepped out onto the porch. Where the hell is she? He started to walk forward when he heard the creak of the stairs behind him.

She was creeping up the stairs with her arms full of food and his wand in her hand. She peered over her shoulder, made a small squeak, and ran up the stairs.

"Weasley! What are you doing?" He stormed back into the house and up the stairs, but he could not reach her door in time before she shut it and locked it with his wand. He let his head fall against her door. Sure we can share the wand. Why don't we just leave it on the table in the hall so we both can use it? In fact, why don't I just cut off my balls and serve them to you on a silver platter? "AAAH! Weasley, I will give you ten minutes to come back downstairs and return MY wand."

ooo

Draco had lain across the bottom several stairs and was talking loudly to himself. "How the hell can she not need to use the loo? It's been two days!"

What he failed to realize was that Ginny was using the loo, very quickly, whilst he was asleep or whilst he was showering. Apparently, even war between the two of them could not dampen Draco's strict regimen and obsessive cleanliness.

Draco stood up, at the bottom of the stairs, and began yelling like a mad man. This was the third time that day. "You know you have to come out sometime. Even Weasels need to shower!" Suddenly, his flushed face broke into the Smirk of Triumph. "Oy! Weasley! Did you forget that we need that wand to keep the Cooling and Heating Charms working?"

He was beginning to stroll back down the hall to the kitchen when he heard her door open. If he were a Gryffindor, he would have retaliated immediately when she came rushing through the kitchen and out the back door. Unfortunately for Ginny, he was still very much a Slytherin. And Slytherins know how to wait.

Ginny came back into the kitchen, wand drawn, prepared to defend herself from Draco's attack. "Malfoy? I'm sorry about your mother's book. Truly I am. I promise I will replace it as soon as we get out of here."

Draco had retreated into the pantry so he could follow her from behind. My mother's book? What a fool! She thinks that this is about that bloody book? Oh, I'm going to enjoy torturing her. He waited for her to enter the hallway before quietly stalking her from behind. He could see the trepidation in her stance. This is going to be too easy. She stopped at the entryway, looking to the right into the sitting room and to the left into the office. He could practically hear her brain trying to decide if she should venture up the stairs.

"Malfoy? Are you upstairs? I said I'm sorry, at least you could respond to me. A simple 'your forgiven' would suffice." She grumbled to herself and then huffed. "I can't believe you are going to hold a grudge!"

Doesn't take long for those claws to come out now does it, Ginevra? I can't wait to hear a real apology from you. He quietly moved through the swinging door, stepped softly down the hall, and tapped her right shoulder. She screamed as she whipped around, and he immediately took the wand out of her shaky hand.

"Your forgiven." Smirk of Triumph.

He strode past her with a cocky grin and opened the front door. She followed him with her eyes, turning only her head to watch him. He looked back at her and slowly lifted the wand. She flinched, turned completely to face him, and stood up straight, lifting her chin. He rolled his eyes and then swiftly pointed the wand over his right shoulder, "Accio book!" He smiled as he reached up and effortlessly caught the book, showing off his Seeker reflexes. He had never taken his eyes off of her. He continued to keep an innocent looking smile on his face as he watched her fidget and the muscles in her throat contract.

"Um, I um, didn't think that would work."

She was blushing profusely, and he enjoyed watching the blush spread down her throat and onto her heaving chest. Stop looking at her chest!

He scanned the book as if checking a missing child for injury. "Thankfully the weather has been mild. In the future, I would like you to ask before you use my things." And with that, he turned to his right and resumed his position at the desk, opening the book presumably to where he had left off.

She stood still for a moment, watching him. So that's it? You're just going to act as if nothing has happened! Instead of pressing her luck, Ginny quietly made her way up the stairs and took a much-needed shower.

ooo

The routine had returned by the next day, but Ginny felt uneasy around Draco. She still didn't trust that he was over her ridiculous behaviour the past couple of days. She was so embarrassed by the way she had acted, and then to top it all off, she looked like a complete imbecile when he Accio'd the book. The fact that it bothered her so much how she looked to him bothered her even more. Unfortunately, all friendly conversation and banter had ended. And his wand had remained in his possession. It was one more embarrassment to have to ask him each time she wanted to use it and then have him stand guard over her as she did. It was particularly humiliating to have him watch her dry her clothes, including her undergarments. She also would occasionally catch him looking at her over the next few days. He never gave away his thoughts with his face anymore. The mask was firmly in place.

Draco was enjoying every minute of watching the little Weasley squirm. He was tempted to let this be punishment enough, but only tempted. He also had no idea that she had such a talent for transfiguration, until he saw her beautifully made lace doilies turned bras and panties. In fact, he was quite distracted with trying to picture her in them. This is going to have to end soon, but I want to wait for the perfect opportunity. And by the next evening, Ginny gave him just that.

"Malfoy, will you please hand me the dishes? I would like to take a walk outside tonight before I go to bed."

"Don't bother. I will do them. You should head out soon before it gets too cold."

Hesitantly she asked, "Really? You're sure?" He nodded. "Okay, thanks. I'm getting a little stir-crazy, and it was a nice day today." He had already turned to the sink and seemed to be lost in thought.

Ginny grabbed her jumper and scarf and headed out the back door. Severus had included in the warded space a lot more of the land behind the house than in the front. She started down the path to the woods and was enjoying the night air and the sound of a hooting owl. She was thinking about her own owl, Onyx, when she felt a presence behind her.

She looked back up at the house but could not see the kitchen window from where she was standing. Great! So this is going to be how it is. He is going to scare the shite out of me. Well, congratulations, Jerkface. It's oh so funny to make me relive the night I was captured. Oh bugger. That was the wrong thing to think about. Ginny decided to quickly run back to the house, but she chose to weave back and forth through the woods in order to lose him. She was very fast and thought for sure that she would get the last laugh.

Draco had considered following her outside and scaring her, but he knew that was just too obvious. So instead, he went into the greenhouse to check on the plants and bring in some more herbs for potions. He was just heading back out of the greenhouse when a frantic redhead slammed into him, pushing them both onto the ground.

"Ouch! Weasley, what in the name of Merlin is wrong with you? Did something happen in the woods to make you lose your mind?"

He looked up at her and immediately regretted it. Her hair was loose and hanging down around their faces, which were only inches apart. She looked surprised and then very frightened. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing hard. Her eyes were unusually bright. Her lips were slightly parted and when she licked them, he felt himself mirror her actions. He realized that his hands were at her sides, and he could just feel the swell of her breast against his right thumb. They lay on the ground for what seemed like several minutes, both afraid to break the gaze that they held. Finally, Draco could tell that he would be embarrassing himself soon if she did not get off of him. He quickly lifted her up and stood them both up.

"Weasley? You are okay? Say something." He was starting to worry that something did happen and started to cup her face in his hands when she jerked back.

"Yes. I am fine. Well actually, I'm - was scared. I thought I was being followed and I kept thinking about the night I was taken and then I hoped maybe it was you and I didn't want you to win this little thing that's been going on so I started running and I was weaving back and forth so I could lose you and then later laugh at you when you came to the house so I was getting a little dizzy with all the running and weaving and then – I think I will be going to bed." She had kept her head down as she rambled. Without looking at him once, she ran into the house and up to her room.

Draco felt terrible. There he was considering taking her on the ground, and she was reliving the worst night of her life. I am an idiot! And what is wrong with me? Sweet Merlin, I think I may have a conscience. He gathered up the spilled items from the greenhouse and headed back into the house. As he climbed the stairs, he noticed her lamp being turned down. He let out a huff, feeling guilty again. He decided to keep his door open in case she would need him.

ooo

Ginny lay in bed, tossing and turning, when she heard the door open. At first she thought it was a Death Eater come to kill her, but then the moonlight fell across his face and lit up his silvery blonde hair. He was shirtless and his trousers were hung low, and he looked like a god. She smiled seductively at him, pulling back the covers in invitation.

He swiftly crossed her room and pushed her back into the bed. She pulled him close and began kissing his mouth and then turned her head exposing her neck to his licks and nips. His hands were roaming up and down her sides, and she could feel her body reacting to his touch. She arched her back, and he lifted her leg as he pushed his body into hers. They began to find a rhythm as he moved back to kissing her mouth. She felt as if she couldn't get enough of him and quickly pushed him up so she could remove her nightgown. His eyes gleamed as they took in her bare chest. He immediately began assaulting her full breasts with his skilled mouth. She pulled him back up to her neck so she could reach down to his trousers.

"Oh….oh….oh. Don't mmm….stop"

Draco sat up in his bed. That was the second time he had heard her. He quickly jumped out of bed and crossed the hall to her door. He heard another whimper, and without hesitation, he charged into her room, prepared to comfort Ginny from her nightmare. He was reaching out to gently shake her when she cried out again.

"Oh God! Oh God!" He quickly grabbed her shoulders just as she shouted, "Draco! Don't stop! Oh God! Oh God! OH MY GOD ARE YOU REALLY HERE?"

Her eyes had flown open in the midst of her screams as he shook her. He jumped straight back from her bed as if she had stung him. Her eyes were round with shock. She was beyond blushing. She couldn't even begin to think of what to say to him.

He finally broke the silence. "I thought you were dreaming. I mean, I was just trying to help. I mean, I thought you were scared and um…we're even." And he backed out of her room and gently closed the door.

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A/N: Not beta'd. So if it's confusing, let me know. I hope you are enjoying this fic. It's my first ever, so it's kind of special to me. It's going to get a bit fluffy for a while, but eventually we learn more about the outside world.

As always, I do not like to beg for reviews, but I really appreciate them. I never realized how much they mean until I started writing.

Enough of that. Thanks to all the readers and reviewers!