Might I now take the opportunity to say a big thank you to w&m_law, who not only writes some of the best D/G around, not only left me many positive, ego boosting reviews, she has also recommended this unworthy fic to at least one other person, who also left me stellar reviews. (note: I am now beaming with delight…)
I know lots of other people who write D/G fics review me, too, and love you all, but just that she is one of my absolute fave authors, and well, I just thought, "hey, if she says they're good, they must be good!"
Right then… break out the toothpaste, this chapter is so sweet and fluffly it will rot your teeth right out of your jaw.
Part VIII Forest Morning
I woke up on my side, my face against a white shoulder, arms wrapped around a white neck, with a luscious musk scent making itself known to my nose. I opened my eyes slowly, trying to stay asleep, trying to submerge myself in the scanty memory of a beautiful dream. Finally, my lids opened fully, and my eyes registered on the sight of Draco beside me.
Instantly, everything that had happened the night came back to me—seeing Draco, running after him, watching him walk away, chasing him down… oh, Goddess, making love to him… I almost jumped to my feet and started dancing around insanely right there, but the bliss of Draco's arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders kept me where I was. I lay beside him, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath he took, and moved closer to him, tucking my head under his chin.
Draco stirred, and I felt him waking up. He stiffened when his brain registered on the situation, then relaxed, touching my hair gently. He pushed himself up on one elbow to look at me—he thought I was still asleep—and I rolled onto my back and smiled at his dazed expression.
"Gin," he whispered, noticing that my eyes were open. He touched my face softly with his thumb. "I didn't know you were awake."
I shifted, hooking an arm around his neck and pulling him back down, shivering pleasantly as he slid him arms around me again, pulling me against him. "I thought I had dreamed that," I said quietly. "You should have seen my face when I woke up to see you beside me."
Draco grinned. "And starkers, no less. I wish I had."
I kissed his lips gently. "You're very cheerful, for someone who was contemplating suicide not so long ago." He winced at the jibe, and I smiled and pushed still-damp hair out of his face. "You're not going to get up and walk away again, are you?"
He pulled me even closer, one of his hands massaging the back of my neck. "Not unless you decide you're coming with me."
I sighed contentedly and snuggled up to him. "I'm not going anywhere," I said stubbornly. "I'm quiet comfortable, thank you."
He whispered something unintelligible into my neck. "Hmm?" I managed, tilting my head back as he began to kiss the flesh under my ear.
"I said… as you… should be…" he explained between kisses. "We… should really… be getting… back." Draco pulled away to look in my eyes, his eyes warm and passionate, though calmer than they had been the night before. "Beautiful," he whispered, more to himself than to me. "You know I love you, don't you?"
"I don't know why you do," I replied, kissing his lips again, and moaning when his mouth quickly opened mine. I pulled back to finish my sentence. "But I know you do."
He caught my mouth again, his tongue making me go weak—I was glad I was already lying down. "You still love me?"
I scoffed. "Do I still love you?" I pretended to be disgusted at the thought. "What a stupid question. Of course I do!"
"Just double checking," Draco explained, smiling at me with such warmth that my insides turned to mush. "And I'll keep checking, too, see if I don't."
For a long time, we said nothing; just lay in each other's arms, enjoying the peace of the forest. "It's getting late," I said finally, starting to sit up. "Everyone will be getting out of bed soon. We have to get back."
He tried to pull me back down. "Who cares?" he demanded groggily. "Let them find us. It'll save having to make detailed explanations later on."
"Draco," I said warningly, and he sighed and sat up, reaching for his boxers and pulling them on. I pulled my shorts over my panties, and tried to do up my bra to no avail.
"Here," he whispered into my shoulder, doing up the clasp for me and kissing the back of my neck softly. I sighed and pulled my shirt over my head as he wrestled his jeans into place, then draped his cloak over his shoulders without bothering with the shirt. I shook my head and picked the discarded garment up, holding it out to him. Draco sighed and stuffed the shirt into his pocket.
We finally stood up and faced each other, sizing each other up affectionately. I stood about as high as his nose, so I had to tilt my head back to get a good look at him, but that didn't matter. Draco bent down and pressed a kiss between my eyebrows, then wrapped me up in his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder, inhaling his scent, rubbing my cheek against the bare skin that had exposed itself from under his haphazardly tied robes.
"How are we going to keep this a secret?" he finally inquired.
"Very carefully," I replied, taking his hand and beginning to walk back to the castle. He smiled at me and squeezed my hand, interlocking his fingers with my own. "I won't be able to pretend to hate you," I admitted. "But maybe if we just avoid each other like we did before…"
"And if I need to talk to you?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
I shrugged. "Just run of and threaten to kill yourself again. I'll follow."
He smirked. "There has to be an easier way. All that running…"
We finally reached the door to one of the secret passageways that Fred and George had showed me in my first year at Hogwarts (they said that I was the only one they could trust to keep it a secret—Ron could wait to learn). Draco said nothing, only grinned when I lead him inside. When we got to the other end—which was directly at the foot of the stairs to the Gryffindor tower, he let go of my hand and stepped back.
"This is where I disappear," he said quietly.
I sighed and kissed him. "You can send me letters," I whispered. "Just don't use school owls, and don't sign your own name." He nodded, then pulled me back and kissed me again, more forcefully, this time, like he was putting a claim on me, making sure I, and everyone knew I was his.
He needn't have bothered. I kissed him back just as passionately, running my hands up his arms and around his neck, making him catch his breath. "I love you, Draco," I told him firmly. "Now scram, before we get caught."
Draco grinned winningly at me, then pulled himself back and walked away calmly. I envied his control—it was taking all my strength to just stay standing there, let alone walking away like nothing was different. He would be able to pull this off better than I would, I realized.
Oh well, I thought happily. This is crazy and you'll get into big trouble for it someday, but it's worth it.
Draco turned around once, just as he neared the turnoff to the Slytherin dungeons, to see Ginny staring after him, her face lit by a brilliant smile. He grinned, laughed happily, and faced his destination again. This is life, he told himself. This is where I am supposed to be.
'
In'nit cute? Actually, now I'm stuck, so any suggestions will be welcomed, should any of you have any brilliant ideas…
Review, sil vous plais… did I spell
that right?