All things Harry Potter belong to the wonderful JK Rowling…  :-)

Chapter 5:  Protector, Defender… Prince

Immediately, Ginny's eyes welled with tears.  He was beautiful… more so than she remembered him to be… the years had been wonderful to him.  But he was injured… dying… and all to protect her from harm.  Her heart ached.  Here was her chance to finally say the things she regretted never saying to the one man whom she had ever loved… and he was nearly dead.  It was so overwhelming… so very painful.

"Please don't die…" she whispered as she lightly kissed his forehead.

A tear streamed down her cheek and landed on his pale lips.  Suddenly, he began to stir.

Ginny gasped, not sure as to what was happening.  The blond man slowly opened his eyes… pools of gray staring intensely into the depths of her soul through her large brown eyes.  The red-haired girl's lips turned into a smile.

"Ohh… you're alive!" she shouted as she hugged him tightly against her.

"Thanks to you," he mumbled as he took hold of her shaking hands.  Slowly, he brought her left hand to his lips and then gently kissed her wrist.

The girl trembled, "I thought you were dead… the Death Eaters… they…"

"Shhh…" he replied.  At that moment, the blond man carefully sat up, never turning his gaze from her eyes.  Suddenly, she blushed a deep shade of red causing him to smirk.

"Your purity of heart and true devotion saved me from death.  I am forever indebted to you… you are an angel."  His face was so sincere.

Ginny smiled.

"Oh Draco…"

"Draco?  Is that my name?  For some reason… I cannot remember."

Ginny's eyebrows furrowed and she frowned, "Don't you remember who you are?  Or… or me?"

The pale man arched an eyebrow, "I remember some things… such as being placed under a curse by some dark wizards… and then you, the beautiful woman who saved me from death."

"What about before all of that?"

"Well… I do remember ruling a kingdom… a magical kingdom, actually.  I'd like to take you there."  That arrogance that Ginny remembered so well seemed to resound in his voice.

But, the fiery red-head felt her heart sink at the fact that Draco could not seem to remember their past… their friendship… their mutual feelings that they never revealed to one another.  But she was elated that he wished to bring her to a magical place… his magical place.  Though she never remembered Draco speaking of such a place before… perhaps with his family inheritance along with money he was surely saving by being a Healer, he was able to purchase such a place… a kingdom.  Wealthy wizards were known to purchase secret magical places to travel to at their leisure.

Ginny heaved a sigh… perhaps his spending some time with her would trigger some memories and remove the last remnants of the dark curse that was obviously still affecting his memory.  After all they had been through together… he just had to remember her.

"I'd love to go with you…" she spoke.

"If you wish, you may call me Draco."

The red-haired girl smiled, "Draco…"  She slipped her hand into his and he squeezed it gently.

"Come… I'll call for a sleigh outside… let's get out of here."

Ginny nodded, "Yes."

Draco led the girl outside and began to whistle a little tune.  Within seconds, a gorgeous sleigh pulled by the most magnificent reindeer appeared.  Draco helped Ginny into the sleigh and then jumped in next to her.  He smiled.

Tears formed in Ginny's eyes… Draco looked so happy.  It had always been a rare thing for her to see him express such emotion.  Being a Malfoy forced certain expectations upon him… expectations she alone knew he did not wish to ever think about.

Draco wrapped a warm blanket over Ginny's shoulders as she was shivering from the cold.  The red-head smiled at him causing him to smirk and then to place his arm lovingly around her body.  He held her close and she snuggled against him.  Draco shut his eyes, reveling in the sensations of the beautiful woman sitting next to him.

The snow seemed to dance in the air around them.  Ginny sneaked a glance at Draco as he watched the crystalline flakes flutter through the sky and onto the ground.  She could not help herself and let out a giggle.

"What's so funny?" Draco inquired.

"It's the way you are looking at the snow… you seem so enthralled with it.  I can't blame you really.  It is beautiful."

Draco's gaze became intense once again and Ginny felt as though he were seeing right into the core of her very essence.

"Not as beautiful as you, my angel."  He paused just then and looked away and out into the night, "But then… there's nothing as beautiful as you."

Ginny felt herself flush at his words.  Despite all the years they had been separated, he still managed to conjure up all the feelings she harbored deep inside for him with full force.  Suddenly, she felt his hand gently take hold of hers.

"We're nearly there," he stated.

Ginny smiled and brought his hand up to her cheek causing him to turn towards her once again.  At that moment, he slowly leaned in closer… his face mere inches away from her own.  Ginny bit her lip just then, but he moved closer still and gently placed his lips against hers… giving her the most innocent of kisses.

Ginny heaved a contented sigh and wrapped her arms around his neck… allowing her fingers to run through his silky blond hair.  Draco pulled her closer and deepened his kiss… his hands trailing along her sides and finally resting firmly on her waist.

He pulled away just then, "I want you to be my Princess… together we will rule my magical kingdom."

Ginny smiled, "Yes… I'd love that."