A/N: Thank you to the new followers and faves! Special thanks to Mr. G0D, Ktpham, and Silverlight20 for your encouraging reviews! :D

Ginny was exhausted the next day but felt lighter than she had in months. Draco had helped her sneak back to her room early in the morning. Things hadn't progressed further but they had spent hours together—and Myrtle hadn't seemed to mind.

He'd told her to meet him tonight. She wondered if she might gain an invitation to his room. She hoped the basilisk tooth was there but feared he'd destroyed it or returned it to Snape or worse.

Ginny was surprised that she didn't seem to mind Draco being a Deatheater. Perhaps it was because she didn't love him—or even like him. She liked to kiss him but she knew his true character and it helped her to keep the walls around her heart sturdy. Walls that she had created when Harry had ended their relationship.

She wondered how she might gain Draco's trust. Tom knew what she was doing. Now that she knew he was aware of her while awake, she was more sensitive to his presence.

She recalled waking in the Chamber of Secrets feeling somewhat different, changed. For years, she'd hoped her dreams weren't real. They had only been nightmares then and occasional. When the Dark Lord's strength had returned, that's when the nightmares worsened.

She'd went to Dumbledore. Looking back, he must have realized it in that moment what she had become but he had wanted to spare her. He'd written her a letter, delivered after his murder explaining to her about the horcruxes. It was too late then to make things easier for Harry. She wished she'd realized sooner that she wasn't worthy of his love and how much harder it would now be on him to destroy all the horcruxes.

She wouldn't let it come to that. She had known that since she'd read Dumbledore's letter, but now it was clear to her that she would spare Harry the deed, spare her brother and Hermione. Before they returned to face the Dark Lord, the horcrux inside her would be destroyed at any cost. The locket at the base of her throat felt heavy.

Ginny pulled herself from her thoughts, slowing her pace as she heard the murmur of voices. She recognized Snape's voice immediately.

"You were supposed to watch her—not seduce her."

Ginny's face flushed. Draco—she couldn't hear him but knew it must be him to whom Snape spoke—remained silent.

"This is your first true assignment. Don't play games, you idiot boy."

"I'm better able to watch her when she allows me to be with her." Draco's voice was defensive.

"If you do anything to compromise your missive—anything, he will not hesitate to destroy you. Don't let her distract you from our goal. You're lucky your parents fought for you to receive such a gift. There's not much time left, Draco. Are you ready for what is to come?"

"Of course, I'm ready. I wouldn't have taken the Mark were I not," Draco retorted.

"If you falter, he will consume you."

Draco didn't respond but Ginny heard something exchanged between them and quickly began distancing herself from the scene before she was found. She sank into the shadows and waited past the time they were set to meet. It was only as Draco came looking for her again that she emerged.

"You're late," he stated.

"You and your rules," she replied, her heart pounding in her chest and her thoughts racing with wonder, sure he knew that she'd overhead them. "Where will we go tonight?" She asked. She struggled not to suggest his room. If she were too forceful, he would see through her—although perhaps he already did.

He took her hand and Disapparted. Thankfully, it was not Ginny's first encounter with the spell though it took her a few moments to orient herself. And when she did, she couldn't help her smile—they were in his room.

They weren't at Hogwarts but neither did they seem to be at the Malfoy manor. He had a small living chamber, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom—at least, that was Ginny's guess based on what she could see from her spot. A fire blazed beside her but there was no other light in the room. A modern couch that didn't look quite as comfortable as the old, cozy one that she liked to study on in the Gryffindor wing.

"No prefect duties tonight?" Ginny asked, as she took in the silver and green décor amongst the dark room.

Draco shook his head before collapsing on the couch. Ginny ventured around the room, inspecting photos of his family and trying not to flinch. She felt tempted to turn a photo of Lucius and Narcissa toward the wall but settled for glaring at Lucius. She toyed with the locket at her throat, wondering what her family would think of her being here, then quickly dismissed the thought. After investigating, she ventured back toward the couch and seated herself in front of the fire. She hadn't seen the basilisk tooth but it seemed unlikely he'd hide it out in the open. Perhaps it would be in the bedroom.

The fire was hot enough to cause beads of sweat across her forehead but it helped to keep her awake.

"Are you allowed off the grounds?" Ginny asked, turning her back to the fire. She could feel the heat against her back like a warning. Surprised given his pension for rules.

Draco quirked a brow but nodded, "yes, all Deatheaters are allowed to Apparate on and off the grounds." It was information she could have guessed, but information all the same. It felt good to know something.

"Does… Does the Dark Lord ever come to Hogwarts?"

Draco studied her. The orange flames reflected off his eyes made them flash red. Ginny looked away, her heart hammering. She hadn't allowed herself to sleep in several days. She didn't know how much longer she could last.

"Rarely."

The idea of the Dark Lord at Hogwarts made her skin crawl. She shivered and turned back to the fire. She heard Draco rise from the couch and disappear from the room. When he returned, there was a mug of tea beside her. He slipped back into place on the couch without a word.

"Some caffeine," was all he said.

Ginny felt a surge of gratefulness as she picked up the mug, inhaling the deep rich scent of bergamot and a hint of orange. She raised the mug to her lips and saw Draco studying her again.

"There's somewhat more," Ginny said, tempted to toss the liquid into the fire. She stood, angry with herself for nearly trusting him with something so simple.

Draco smirked, "silly Weasley, I wondered if you'd ask."

"What is it?" she demanded.

Draco stood from the couch, grabbed the mug from her, then took a large swallow. "Refreshing," he commented, handed her the mug back, pressed a brief kiss to her lips, then returned to the couch.

Ginny looked down at the tea, watching Draco closely before taking a sip. It felt warm and good in her belly as she took a seat on the couch beside him. She would wait to see her reaction before having more but it was comforting to hold.

"What sort of results are expected of you?" Ginny asked, then added. "from watching me."

Draco rolled his eyes in response. He had taken off his robes, likely while she'd looked around the room, and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt. It was comfortably warm, especially with the tea. Ginny shrugged off her own robe and took a sip wondering how she might be invited into his bedroom without offering herself.

She'd never thought about when she would start having sex. She wouldn't have chosen Draco to be her first time but who was the alternative? Tom's grin flashed behind her eyes and she wondered if he'd conjured it. She shivered at the thought.

A moment later, Draco's arm was around her. "You're cold?"

The weight of his arm felt good despite the heat so she merely nodded and leaned her head against his chest.

"So, no answer to my question?" She asked and he snorted. She tilted her head to look up at him. It seemed a very intimate angle to look at someone.

He ran his fingers down her hair and she closed her eyes.

"To protect you," he said, his voice quiet, as he continued to stroke her hair.

"Anything else?" she murmured. It felt so good to be comforted, to be so close to someone, to share a secret.

"No," he replied, his answer a rumble in his chest. She smiled softly at the feeling of it against her head. She was dozing off—startled, she reached for her mug of tea and took a large gulp. This position was too comfortable, she decided after she set down her mug.

Meeting Draco's eyes, a new position popped into her head. She crawled on top of him, extending herself along the length of his body. He adjusted himself so she lay on top of him, their eyes locked. His hands found her hips, both their hearts began to pound. Draco slid his hand into her hair and pulled her head down for a kiss, his tongue parting her lips.

She could taste the bergamot from the tea lingering on his tongue. Ginny slipped her hand up his chest and began undoing the remaining buttons, then traced her hand down the planes of his torso. Unsatisfied, she took off her own shirt and tossed it aside, pressing her skin against him. She could feel the heat of him, tight against her.

His hand slid behind her back to unclasp her bra, she sat up to slip it off her shoulders and enjoyed the feel of him hardening beneath her. No one had ever seen her like this.

Draco pulled her close, his mouth found her nipple and pleasure rolled through her. He caressed her other breast with his hand, then flicked her nipple with his tongue and making her gasp. She ground into him, closing her eyes and arching her back. Maybe she was ready to have sex. Why did her first time need to be special anyway?

She clutched his hand against her breast, encouraging him to squeeze harder and he obliged. His other hand slipped between them into her underwear. He cupped her in his palm and his breath hitched.

"You're so wet," he murmured against her breast.

Ginny paused, her face flushing, caught between embarrassment and the growing need deep in her belly. Draco noticed her expression and took her breast back into his mouth as he began making circles with a finger against a spot that made Ginny cry out with pleasure. She grabbed his shoulders, leaning into him as he began making faster circles. The pressure began to build. She'd never felt anything so good.

"Don't stop," she whispered against his neck, burying her face there as he moved his finger to begin sliding in and out of her in a way that still brushed her most sensitive spot. He groaned as he entered her, biting her shoulder and making her cry out again.

"Faster," she begged and he obliged as she ground into his hand. Pleasure radiated through her. How had she never tried this before? His teeth found her breast and suddenly pleasure exploded through her body. She gasped, closing her eyes and enjoying every pulse as it slowly began to fade.

Draco withdrew his finger and placed it in his mouth.

Ginny sighed against his shoulder, placing a kiss there.

Draco pulled back slightly to look at her. "Have you climaxed before?"

Ginny flushed but kept her chin lifted, eyes on his. Draco smirked, kissing her again.

"You can do it yourself," he said as he pulled away, breathless. "I can show you."

"No need," she replied with a similar smirk. "One demonstration is all I need, but I would like you to show me something else."

Draco's gaze heated as she unbuckled his pants and helped him slip them and his boxers down his hips.

"How do I make you climax?"

"Start slow," he murmured, eyelids heavy.

She reached for him. His hardness pulsed in her hand, soft and hot against her palm. She touched the delicate pink tip even softer than the shaft, carefully exploring the ridges and dips. When her hand began touch underneath the tip, Draco's hand came down around hers and began to move up and down the length of him. His breathing began to quicken.

Touching his tip gently, Ginny watched Draco's eyes watching her. Slowly, she leaned down to take his tip into her mouth. He felt soft and good in her mouth. He began moving her hand faster as she began sucking and licking him with her tongue. She wondered how much of him could fit in her mouth and carefully angled her mouth further down his shaft. He groaned as she moved her mouth in rhythm with their hands.

She liked the salty taste of him in her mouth and the way he quivered if she moved just right. She liked the sounds he made, the way he closed his eyes as he made a noise deep in his throat only to open them again and watch her with hunger.

"I'm going to come," he murmured as if to give her permission to move her mouth. Instead, she moved her hand faster and used her tongue to caress his tip, enjoying the feel of his release in her mouth. When he opened his eyes again, she swallowed, feeling her own desire begin to grow again.

He pulled her onto of him with a grin, kissing her, then leaning back and closing his eyes. She settled against his chest, his heart still pounded and she closed her eyes to hear it better. It felt good to be closer to someone. He idly stroked her back.

Her eyes began to close and she quickly snapped them open, trying to find something to occupy her mind and keep her awake. Her gaze landed on a picture of the Malfoy family. She reached for the locket around her neck but stopped herself, not wanting to think of her family.

"Do you enjoy having your family stare at you and the girls you bring home?" Ginny teased, turning to see him roll his eyes at her.

He ran his fingers through her hair. "My mind is typically preoccupied when I have such company and other times, I appreciate the reminder."

"The reminder?"

He was quiet and Ginny wondered if he were ignoring her as he tended to do. Finally, he spoke. "My father loves me and my mother." He paused, still stroking her hair, studying it in the light of the fire. "But it's his ambition that motivates him. Power and a good game."

"And your mother?" Ginny asked quietly.

He met her eyes briefly, "she is a selfish woman as her namesake implies. But she says that I make her do better, try harder. Before me, she claims she was aimless and cruel. I don't see that in her." His eyes slid to the photograph beside them. "He reminds me that there are always games to be played but she reminds me that love comes first."

"That's beautiful," Ginny whispered.

Draco snorted, then dragged her in for a kiss.

"Are you close with you the other Weasels?" he asked when they broke apart. Ginny reached for her locket and met with empty skin. She sat up abruptly, searching for it.

"What is it?"

"My locket," she said, standing and rifling through her clothes. The fire flickered against something gold at the bottom of the pile. Ginny sighed with relief as she plucked the necklace from the ground. The clasp was broken but it was an easy mend.

She reached for her wand but paused with the spell on her lips. The sight of the locket made her feel heavy. She couldn't bare to open the locket and see her family, their happiness, their love—she didn't deserve that anymore. Not when she hid such evil inside her, not when she might betray them with a thought. The only way she could protect them now was to keep them as far away as possible.

"Is it broken?" Draco asked, sitting up and studying it.

Ginny nodded, "it's fine. It's time I stopped wearing it anyway."

Draco studied her but didn't respond. The evening was quiet after that and he returned her to Hogwarts soon after. Exhausted but content, she changed her clothes and readied for the day, taking time for a quick and dreamless nap.