Kiss Me Quick?
Ginny and Draco had made it out of the library intact. Exhausted,
the pair collapsed into a store cupboard and hid amongst the buckets and brooms
there.
As they caught their breath, Draco sniffed the air. "Urr. You
smell really bad."
In the dim light, Draco regretted opening his mouth as Ginny
collapsed into a ball and hid her face from him. "Hey, look, I'm
sorry," said Draco, standing over her awkwardly.
Ginny began to ball her fists until her nails dug into her palms,
drawing rivulets of blood. Draco swooped down on her and hugged her. He wrapped
his arms completely around her to stop her shaking and eventually Ginny relaxed
her hands and snuggled into Draco's arms.
"Hey, come on Weasley. This isn't how Ron would act is
it?" snapped Draco.
Ginny mumbled something into Draco's armpit.
"What was that Weasley?" smiled Draco.
Ginny pushed him away and she looked up pathetically at him.
"I said, 'Ron would have knocked you out by now', you poo-head."
Draco and Ginny smiled. "Poo-head?" laughed Draco.
"I really think we've reached the end of name-calling, right Ginny?"
Ginny smiled, but looked away. Draco tried to hug her, but she
pushed him away. "I'm... I couldn't help it. I was scared, okay?"
muttered Ginny.
Draco at first did not understand but as he coaxed her back into
his arms. As he drew her close he realised that her legs were wet and that
Ginny was ashamed at herself.
"It's no big deal. Hey, we're alive, and that's all that
matters, okay?"
Ginny sniffed and wiped her eyes dry. To her amazement, Draco
flourished a clean white handkerchief for her and she smiled.
"Oh, mummy does worry so. She is always insisting I carry one
of these things," apologised Draco. Ginny laughed nervously.
"Thankyou Draco."
"You're still smelly though Ginny," he added and earned
a playful punch in the arm from her.
Draco helped clear the soot and tears from Ginny's face and within
moments, the outside world was forgotten. Ginny closed her eyes and pretended
that she were a baby again, being pampered by her mummy. Draco was lost,
thinking how beautiful and fragile Ginny looked. When Draco finished, he asked
"Are you feeling better now?"
Ginny nodded but she clung to Draco in the next instant, lost in
heavy sobs. Draco patted her and cuddled her. He wiped his hands on the
handkerchief and began to run his fingers through her hair until Ginny had
settled down to snuffling on his chest. Outside, distant explosions and screams
resumed and the pair seemed to snap out of their trance.
"Okay Draco, what now?" said Ginny hoarsely, stealing
Draco's handkerchief to wipe her eyes dry.
"Well..."
"And I don't mean for you to get into my knickers mister.
Come on, we had better get out of here, 'Draccy'" smiled Ginny, colour
returning to her cheeks.
Draco reeled slightly from Ginny's change in tone, but smiled
nonetheless. "Well, I wouldn't want to get in your knickers anyway. You
wet them like a baby remember?"
"Oh shut up," snapped Ginny. Draco noted that Ginny
seemed her old self again and smiled as the pair helped each other up. Draco
peeked around the door and realised that the corridor outside was filling with
smoke.
"We've got to move Ginny. Are you ready?" he asked
firmly.
"Can't...Can't we stay here?" whispered Ginny, suddenly
quiet again.
"Well, you're wetter than I am so you'd last a bit longer,
but I don't fancy getting burnt alive. Okay? We'll head up and out of the first
window we find. Someone is bound to spot us, right?" said Draco. Ginny did
not trust Draco much and liked him even less, but what else could she do but
follow his plan? Draco opened the door and edged outside. Returning within a
few seconds he nodded to Ginny.
"Come on, there's no-one down here. Use my handkerchief over
your mouth though, it's quite smoky. Okay?" Ginny nodded and the pair
slipped out into the corridor and headed away from the library area.
From the library door, two red eyes watched them flee.
To be continued...
Disclaimer:
The characters and setting are all thanks to J.
K. Rowling. I claim no ownership of these characters, though the events I put
them through are all mine. Mwah hah ha.