Disclaimer: Man, I hate these things. No, it's not mine – no, I don't claim to own it. No, I'm not making any money from it. Grrr…

The Slytherin And The Slumber Party

3. The Unexpected



In the days that followed that night in the tower, Ginny realized that she had been selfish.

She shouldn't have expected Draco to change – deep down, she didn't really want him to.

He'd been right when he'd told her she'd fooled herself into thinking he was really someone else inside.

She loved him just the way he was – and that scared her. She didn't want to love him, but after days of nursing the hollow ache in her chest, she resignedly gave into the feelings she'd buried.

He was spoiled, and selfish, thoughtless and cruel – and she loved him.

She really loved him just the way he was.

That was what she should have told him back in the tower.

That was what she should have said.

~***~

"Love sucks." Ginny muttered one morning as she sat staring at her slowly congealing scrambled eggs.

Ron, who'd only just started speaking to her again, paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "What's wrong, Gin? Lover boy finally showing his true colors?"

Hermione, who sat next to him, jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. "Don't be mean, Ron."

"Oh, and she wasn't being mean to me when she started going out with that rat?"

"You're her brother, you're supposed to be supporting her, not digging at her!" Hermione snapped at him curtly, her eyes fiery.

Ron narrowed his eyes and slowly put down his fork. "You don't know anything about it, 'Mione…just keep your nose out of it!"

Ginny forgot her own misery for a moment to look across at Harry, who sat on Ron's other side, and see him looking at his two friends curiously as well.

She'd never seen her brother speak so threateningly to Hermione…

"I won't keep my nose out of anything," Hermione shot back fiercely. "I'm tired of watching you mope around over something that's not even any of your bloody business! She's in love with Draco Malfoy – accept it, get over it, and get on with your life!"

Ron stood up and towered over Hermione, his fists clenched at his sides.

Ginny looked away from the spectacle long enough to notice that the two had gained an awfully lot of attention…

Hermione wasn't intimidated, however. She threw her napkin onto her plate, and stood up, planting one hand on her hip, and waving the other in her brother's face.

She found herself biting her lip to keep from smiling.

"I've always taken your temper tantrums and silences with a grain of salt, Ron Weasley, but I'm not doing it anymore! I hope you're actually paying attention for once, because I'm going to say it just one more time, and you'd damned well better listen – Get. Over. It!"

Ron's face was rapidly turning as red as his hair.

Harry was watching his friend closely, clearly ready to jump up and grab him if he started getting violent. He looked over at Ginny and she gave her head a tiny shake.

"Yeah, well…did anyone ever tell you, you're a bloody pain in the ass?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, and everyone in the hall who'd been holding their breath let it out.

"I think we'd better continue this discussion somewhere a bit more private," Hermione muttered, and tugged the protesting red head away out of the hall, sending Ginny a small wink.

Go for it, Hermione, she cheered silently.

Harry shook his head and looked after the squabbling pair. Apparently they'd stopped just outside the hall, because everyone could still hear them yelling at each other, in muffled voices.

"At least somebody around here is going to have a happily ever after," she sighed, feeling extremely sorry for herself.

"You think she's finally going to tell him?"

"Yep." Ginny leaned forward on her elbows and hissed, "Or he'll finally tell her - I think he might even beat her to it."

As if on cue, the escalating argument suddenly became silenced, and Ginny giggled into her hand as a slight blush rose on Harry's cheeks.

"I'm glad we didn't get around to making a bet on it," he finally said, grinning. "I definitely would have lost."

Ginny reached across the table and squeezed his hand with hers, smiling brightly, feeling incredibly happy for her friends.

"Now…all you have to do is go and talk to Cho…"

~***~

Draco nearly bit his tongue in two as he watched Ginny take Potter's hand, and lean across the table to whisper something.

He narrowed his eyes, feeling jealousy race through his veins like a fiery green poison.

It hadn't even been a week, and she was practically crawling into the speccy git's lap.

He stood up, removing himself from the table with quiet deliberation – the reason being, there were far too many sharp things within his reach, and he didn't trust himself just then.

Draco walked past the Gryffindor table, clenching his fists as he moved past Potter's back, and he let his eyes meet Ginny's…



Ginny felt her breath catch in her throat as Draco walked by, his eyes burning as they met hers.

A muscle worked furiously in his jaw, as he dropped his silvery eyes to where her hand rested on Harry's.

She snatched her hand back as if it had been burned, and he looked back up at her with a sneer and moved away.

Harry frowned at her, oblivious to the exchange, and then he turned his head to catch what she'd been staring after.

"What's his problem?"

Ginny smiled sadly. "Somebody's jealous."

"What? Oh…" Harry's brows rose over the rims of his glasses. "He thought…"

"Yep." Ginny shook her head and prodded the rubber – like eggs on her plate with her index finger. They were ice – cold. She sighed and stood up.

"Well, have a good day, Harry – I've got to get to class."

"You too. Bye, Gin…"

~***~

Ginny jumped, startled, the next morning, when a letter was dropped in her lap when the owl post came.

She'd been watching a hundred small missiles drop from the owls darting by overhead, and didn't expect the envelope that was dropped right past her nose.

Frowning, she opened the letter, and read.

'Weasel – where did you get the idea that we were finished? You seem to have forgotten one small thing – you're still mine for two and a half more months…so you can forget about whatever you had planned with Potter until then.

Meet me tonight, in the usual place, eight o'clock – if you don't show, I'll take that as an invitation to make good on my previous threats – I think you know by now, you don't want me as your enemy.

Yours, D'

Ginny couldn't decide if she felt ill, angry, or idiotically happy.

"What'd you get there, Gin?"

She closed the letter slowly, and tucked it away. "Oh, junk mail…"

Ron looked skeptical, but turned his attention back to Hermione, who was smiling up at him prettily.

Ginny suddenly grinned at the couple – Hermione had come shrieking into the sixth year dorms the night before looking ecstatically happy, and told her that Ron had asked her to be his girlfriend.

She watched her brother take Hermione's hand and rub his thumb across her knuckles as he laughed at something she said. He looked at his girlfriend as if she were the most beautiful thing in existence –

Teary eyed, Ginny excused herself, keeping her eyes on the floor as she walked between the tables – she almost tripped as someone stuck their legs right out in front of her, and she couldn't pass.

She looked up, irritated, and froze when she saw Draco. He was sitting on the bench with back turned to the table, leaning on his elbows and his long legs stretched out before him.

He watched her closely for a moment, his eyes hooded, and then smirked, lazily moving his legs.

"So sorry, Weasel…didn't see you there."

Ginny felt her eyes sting again as half of the Slytherin table snickered, and she shot Draco a furious look before she stalked past him with a toss of her hair.

~***~

Draco felt the smirk fall from his lips as he watched Ginny walk away – she'd been on the verge of crying. He'd seen the diamond sheen of tears in her brown eyes when she'd looked at him, and it had struck him like a blow to the stomach.

He had the urge to get up and go after her, but he wouldn't let himself. She was probably just upset about not getting to spend her evenings with Potter.

Anger at the thought pushed away the unfamiliar feeling of sympathy irritating him, and satisfied, he turned back to his untouched breakfast.

~***~

Ginny arrived at the appointed place, at the appointed time, feeling nearly numb from the cold.

Draco was already there, reclining on the stone bench with his hands clasped over his abdomen. He was staring at the arched ceiling, and didn't bother even looking at her as she pulled off her cloak, shaking snow from the folds.

She removed her scarf, and gloves, and took a tentative step forward.

He closed his eyes, and she saw his chest rise as he took a deep breath.

Ginny watched the lantern light flicker across his pale, perfect features, emphasizing the sharp hollows of his cheeks, and the shiny sleekness of his combed back hair.

"What'd Potter say when you told him where you coming?"

Ginny blinked, crossing hers arms against the chill in the air as his cool, emotionless voice broke the silence.

"Why would I tell him where I was going? I mean, I know what you thought yesterday, but Harry and I are not involved-"

"Spare me."

Ginny watched his eyelids flicker open, and he slowly sat up, turning his back to the wall. He leaned his head against the wall, and crossed his arms, looking at her steadily.

Ginny's skin tingled as he lazily held out a hand, palm up.

She crossed the room, and put her icy hand in his.

He closed his fingers around hers, and pulled her down to sit next to him.

Ginny watched as he tuned to face her, and brought his fingers up to brush against the underside of her chin.

"Close your eyes," he demanded softly.

She felt her heart thud painfully, and did as he asked.

He moved closer to her, and she saw the shadows shift from behind her eyelids as his shoulders blocked out the light.

"Did he touch you?"

Surprised, Ginny opened her eyes, only to have him brush them closed again with his fingertips.

"Remember, whatever I want, Ginny…keep your eyes closed."

She trembled as his breath fanned her cheek.

"Did he touch you? Did you let him?"

The deceptive calmness of his voice made her shiver – she could feel the barely leashed violence in his touch as his hand wrapped gently around her throat.

"No, he didn't touch me…"

His hand tightened. "You're lying."

She shook her head. "No…it's the truth."

His lips brushed her ear as he tilted her head to one side. "Where'd he touch you, Ginny? Where? Here?"

She bit her lip as his hand dropped from her neck to her breasts, rubbing gently, before lowering to curl about her hip.

She shook her head, dizzy and breathless, as he trailed kisses along the curve of her throat.

"Where did he kiss you, Ginny, luv? Anywhere? Your lips, your wrists…"

His low whisper trailed off as he lifted her hands to his lips, brushing kisses along her knuckles.

He smiled against her palm when he pressed a kiss there, and she shivered. He moved to the sensitive skin of her wrist, pushing back the cuff of her sweater. His warm tongue glided across her skin, slowly, and Ginny couldn't keep a gasp from escaping.

"I can make you forget anything he ever did to you – I can keep you here all night if I want, and kiss you in places you've never even thought of…I can touch you all I want, Ginny, and you'd love it."

Ginny took a shaky breath and opened her eyes to stare into his. They were as cold as they'd been when she'd first walked in. "Harry has never touched me, Draco. I wish you'd believe that."

He shrugged and dropped his lips to her wrist again.

"Stop," she said, tugging her wrist from his hand. "You're playing with me."

He smirked, his cold eyes traveling over her heaving chest. "Not yet- give me time."

Ginny pushed off of the bench, and began pacing, trying to make her heart slow. "Why are you doing this? You know what your father said."

"My father?" Draco shook his head, laughing derisively. "My father has nothing to do with this – he can go to the devil along with Voldemort as far as I'm concerned. This is between us, Ginny…and if he doesn't like it, he can bloody well fuck off."

Ginny sucked in a deep breath. "It just goes to show, you don't care about anyone else but yourself – do you know what he could do to my parents, Draco? My family?" She shook her head and looked at him pleadingly. "I…I do love you, Draco, stupid as I am…but I can't do this. Not with your father looming over us...I think we should just drop this."

"You make it sound like you have a choice, Ginny," he drawled. "Have you forgotten I'm blackmailing you?"

"Oh stop it, Draco – we're way past that!" Ginny snapped, flinging her heavy curls over her shoulder. "I know you like me – you wouldn't go to all this trouble if you didn't. And if you really do like me, or care for me in any way, you'll let me walk away right now, because no matter how much I might want to be with you, I'd never forgive myself if something happened to my parents."

He dropped his eyes from hers, and seemed to be grinding his teeth.

"All right," he said finally, his voice hard and flat. "I'll leave you alone, Ginny. If that's what you really want."

Ginny felt hot tears spill down her cheeks, and she moved forward to drop to her knees before him. "No, it's not what I really want, Draco…but it's what I have to do…please understand…"

He looked at her reluctantly, and his eyes softened to cloudy gray when he saw her tears.

"Don't cry, Gin…"

She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Don't let your father make you into what he is, Draco. You're better than that – I'm sure you're meant for better things." She stood up, pulled on her things, and swiped at the tears on her cheeks.

Draco stood up, and watched her, his hands shoved into his pockets.

Ginny sniffled, pulling her fall of hair from beneath the collar of her cloak. She turned back to him, and forced a smile. "So? Aren't you going to tell me how stupid I am for falling for you again?"

She watched him swallow, noting the tenseness of his shoulders. He walked forward, and stopped right in front of her.

"No…you have excellent taste."

Ginny grinned and then bit her lip.

"I guess I'll go."

"You probably should…if I get my hands on you again, I won't let you go."

She met his eyes, surprised.

"Why do you think I've got my hands in my pockets?" He shrugged. "My self – control is on vacation tonight."

Ginny would have laughed if she hadn't felt so horrible.

"Well…goodbye."

He didn't say anything – if she'd have been hoping for a sudden proclamation of his love, she'd have been sorely disappointed.

But thankfully, she knew better.

Ginny turned and walked away.



Draco kept his spine stiff as he watched her go. He closed his eyes for a moment, willing the unfamiliar ache in his chest away, trying not to think of the things he'd wanted to say, the things he should have said. After he opened his eyes, he walked over to the corner, lifted down the lantern, and opened it up, blowing out the flame flickering inside.



~***~

"We lose along the way, the things we leave behind," – 'Halo', Oleander



Ginny shooed a grumpy garden gnome out through the hole in the hedge surrounding the garden, and wiped a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead.

"You know they're just going wander back quicker that way, Gin," Ron called over his shoulder.

Ginny straightened up, blowing away a loose red curl that was tickling her nose. "It's mean to throw them out of the garden like that – they always come back with skinned noses."

Ron rolled his eyes and kept digging in the bushes. He pulled his hand back with a curse as a particularly ill-tempered gnome bit him.

"Why you-"

Ginny giggled and walked back into the burrow, fanning herself – it was late July, and the air was fairly boiling.

She walked into the kitchen, and got a cold, icy glass of lemonade. Just as she was pouring another for her brother, she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye, and she frowned, moving around the kitchen table to look out the window.

She couldn't see anything, except bees buzzing around the honeysuckle vine outside of the window…

Ginny shrugged, and pulled the stubborn strap of her white halter top back up over her shoulder and turned back to the counter where she'd left the glasses.

She'd just picked them up, and started back out into the garden when a knock came on the front door.

Ginny turned, sighing in frustration, and made her way to the door, wondering whom it possibly could be.

"Coming!"

Ginny juggled the glasses, twisted the doorknob, and threw open the door.

"Hello, Ginny!"

"Hermione!!! Oh, my god!" Ginny set the glasses aside and drew the girl into her arms.

"Ron! Hermione's back!"

~***~

"Slumber party!"

Ginny shook her head. "No, no way. No slumber party."

Hermione bit her lip. Then she looked at Ginny and grinned. "Slumber party."

Ginny got off her bed and paced the room. "I'm sorry, I know you just got back from your vacation with your parents, and you're still healing from the whole battle against Voldemort with Harry and Ron, but you do remember what happened the last time we attended a Slumber party?"

Hermione looked up from examining the almost non – existent scar circling her abdomen, and let her t – shirt drop. She tilted her head and pouted. "Come on – it'll be fun. Just me, and you…no Lavender, no Parvati – " she smiled. "You're parents aren't due back until Monday…please?"

"What about Ron?"

"Ron has decided to go and visit Harry and Sirius for the weekend…so it'll just be us! What do you think?"

Ginny sighed, her eyes straying to the yearbook picture of a smirking Draco in his graduation robes that she'd cut out of the Hogwarts annual and pinned on the wall above her bed. She felt tears sting her eyes, and wet her lips, looking away.

"Okay…since it means so much to you…but remind me to put a locking charm on my lingerie drawer, all right?"

Hermione laughed softly, and turned her head to look over at the picture of Draco sadly.

"I miss him, Hermione…I still miss him." Ginny swallowed, wrapping her arms around her middle.

"I know you do, Ginny…I'm sorry I reminded you-"

"No, I'm glad you reminded me…though it's not as if I'll ever forget him." Ginny walked over to her window, which was open to the night air, and looked out into the darkness.

"No one will ever forget him, Ginny – he practically saved Harry's life."

"Yes…I know." She dropped her head to her chest and tried to push away the raw pain in her heart. "I know."

"I'm going to go and see about dinner – you coming?"

"In a minute."

"All right…I love you, Gin – you know that, don't you?"

"I love you, too."

Ginny heard the bedroom door close behind her and let the tears fall. She blinked through them, and put her hands on the windowsill, leaning out into the darkness to stare up at the stars in the night sky.

~***~

(A/N: Okay – this is originally where I was going to end it – but it seemed way too cruel. Oh, all right it wasn't because it seemed cruel, or because I was afraid of you guys murdering me – 'I' just couldn't leave it that way. ::Sobs:: Anyway, read on. Shoo! ^-^)

~***~

"Ewww!" Ginny buried her face in her pillow for the hundredth time that night.

"Why did I ever agree to watch this?" She groaned, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Oh, come on! You have to admit, that was pretty cool, the way his head just exploded."

Ginny dropped the pillow and lifted her head to stare at her friend. "Who'd have thought in all the years I've known you, that you were a closet muggle horror movie fanatic?"

Hermione grinned around a mouthful of popcorn, and turned her eyes back to the gore on the TV she'd had her parents send along the day before. "I'm not a fanatic – I just happen to have a great appreciation for Hammer films, that's all. They're classics."

Ginny shook her head and groaned as yet more horribly fake looking blood was spilled. The movie was so lame it was laughable. "I think Ron finally rubbed off on you," she said sorrowfully as she stood up to go into the kitchen. "I'm going to get another drink – want one?"

"No, thanks – I'm near floating, now." Hermione crawled out of her blankets on the living room floor, pushed the stop button on the VCR and stood up. "I'm going to the bathroom – back in a sec."

"Okay." Ginny walked into the dark kitchen, yawning, and picked up her wand from the table. "Lumos," she said around another yawn, lighting the room, and dug in the cupboard for another bottle of butter beer.

"Nox,"

She wandered back into the living room, which was stifling hot, and seeing that Hermione hadn't yet returned, she went outside to get some air.



Thunder rumbled in the distance as she stepped out the front door, and a welcome rush of cool air brushed through her hair, and against her skin.

Ginny settled herself on a wooden bench on the porch, and set her drink aside, leaning her head back against the house. She watched the leaves on the trees in the front yard sway in the wind, and the clouds moving in hide the stars shining vibrantly above.

Purple heat lightning sparked silently overhead, and she closed her eyes, listening to the wind.

The pain was still there, squeezing her hollow chest into aching pieces.

It was always there – she'd just gotten really good at ignoring it at times – and hiding it from her sympathetic, well meaning friends.

Draco's face loomed up in her thoughts again, haunting her, and she could almost feel the touch of her fingers on her jaw again…

Ginny opened her eyes as the thunder sounded again, closer this time. She ignored the rising wind, and stared at the fast moving clouds in the night sky, remembering the last time she'd seen him alive.

It had been at the train platform the evening after the graduation ceremony.

Everyone had been grinning, celebrating, saying ther goodbyes – everyone had had their whole future stretching out before them…none of them had known what was lying in wait, scant days ahead.

She'd been standing with her friends, laughing at something Harry had said…and she'd felt someone watching her.

Looking away, she'd seen Draco staring at her from a few feet away – and her blood had run cold as she saw the piercing eyes of his father, Lucius, looking at her as well, with immense dislike.

He'd placed his hand on his son's shoulder – and Draco had shrugged it off, still looking emotionlessly at Ginny, before he'd turned away, and disappeared with his father.

She'd gotten the news from a bitter, angry Ron, later, that he'd joined Voldemort's ranks.

The betrayal had torn out her heart.

A week after gradation, when Harry, Ron and Hermione had been visiting together at The Leaky Cauldron in London, Voldemort had at last made his move.

More than half the people present hadn't made it – and the massacre hadn't ended when the battle had moved out into Diagon Alley.

Hermione had been nearly killed, she'd very nearly bled to death on the cobblestones…Ron had been knocked unconscious, and had actually been in a coma for two weeks. And Harry – well, poor Harry was still recovering from the repeated use of the Cruciatus…

Hermione had told her all about it, when Ginny had gone to visit her in the hospital. She'd said something about setting things straight…

Voldemort had been seconds from using the killing curse, when Draco had shed his Death Eaters mask…

Ginny shut her eyes against a flood of tears that would never completely go away…she didn't want to think of how he'd died –

By his own father's hand…

Hermione had been convinced he'd been planning it all along. Ginny wished she could be so sure. It was hard, loving him, and having doubts – and knowing he was gone, and wasn't around to defend himself.

Ginny felt a small smile curl her lips. Draco wouldn't have bothered to defend himself – he would have told anyone who questioned him to sod off, no doubt.

A gentle rain began falling, and she stood up to walk to the edge of the porch rail, reaching her hand out to feel it.

Thunder rumbled loudly overhead, and Ginny frowned as a chill ran along her spine. Her skin prickled as she suddenly felt eyes on her…she thought she heard footsteps on the wooden planks behind her, and whirled around, tasting her fear sharp and bitter on her tongue.

'Damn Hermione and her horror movies,' she thought briefly, annoyed, before she saw a dark shape lounging against her escape – the door.

She almost screamed, a thousand images flashing through her mind, before she remembered she still had her wand in her hand, and pointed it at the shadow.

The shape shifted, a flash of lightning lighting up the world for an instant, glinting in hooded silver eyes, and damp white – blonde hair before it faded out.

Ginny dropped her wand, and it clattered on the floor and rolled away.

"Draco?"

~***~

Draco stepped forward to catch her before she fainted.

He caught her arms and propelled her back to her bench before reluctantly letting her go and stepping a safe distance away.

Draco watched her stare up at him impossibly wide eyes, and almost damned himself coming there…

He pushed a hand through his wet hair and grimaced, waiting for her to start screaming obscenities, or start shrieking in terror about being in the presence of a known Death Eater…but she just stared at him.

The way she watched him made him uncomfortable. Afraid he'd made her lose her mind, he decided the best way to get her to snap out of it was to make her good and angry.

"Well, don't just sit there and gawk at me…yes, I'm really here. No, I'm not a ghost…" Draco smirked wickedly and pulled a very familiar looking bit of lingerie from his pocket, dangling them from his fingertip. "We still have some unfinished business, I believe, Weasel…did you really think I was going to let it go that easily?"

~***~

Ginny felt shock, surprise, hurt and anger hit her all at once, and she was torn between throwing herself at his chest, and finding her wand to transfigure him into a horned toad.

She stared at the scrap of lace dandling from his fingertip, and stood up shakily.

"You bastard."

He actually looked surprised as she took a step forward, reared back her fist – and punched him right in the eye.

He hissed, grabbed his eye, and growled, "Since when did you become the violent sort?"

"Since you didn't die, you rat!" Ginny cradled her aching hand and glared at him, tears sparkling in her eyes.

Draco looked at her through his rapidly swelling eye with a glare of his own. "I'm sorry, I'd been led to believe that you actually missed me – excuse me for inconveniencing you and not dying!"

Ginny watched him clench his teeth, and turn to walk away, and panic seized her. She flung herself against his back, pressing her cheek to his wet shirt with a sob.

"Don't you dare leave me, Draco Malfoy! Don't you dare!"

He sighed, and turned in her arms to look down at her, rolling his eyes. "Would you make up your bloody mind, woman?"

"Just shut up and kiss me," she sniffed, shaking her head as she stared through the darkness into his eyes.

"Only since you asked so nicely," he drawled with soft sarcasm, leaning down to touch his lips to hers…

~***~

"I can't believe Hermione planned this," Ginny murmured hours later as she lay on Draco's chest in her candle lit bedroom. "I can't believe she knew you were alive, and didn't tell me…"

Draco ran his fingers through her hair, and she felt him take a deep breath.

"She didn't…not until a few weeks ago. My father – he escaped after the battle in Diagon Alley, along with a few others…the ministry kept me in protective custody until they were found, because they thought my life would be threatened – it was a big, bloody awful mess."

Ginny closed her eyes as she listened to his heartbeat beneath her ear. She knew she was dreaming, she knew she was going to wake up any minute and spend the day crying in bed because the dream had seemed so real…

"So, I'm assuming they were found?"

"Yes…they've been sent to Azkaban…to receive the Dementor's kiss."

Ginny shivered and pressed herself against his chest. She found herself eyeing the shirtsleeve covering his arm, and he caught her.

"It's gone, in case you're wondering…it disappeared when Voldemort was killed." Draco said flatly.

She ran her hand over his arm and winced. "Was it horrible, receiving it?"

Draco stiffened slightly, and his eyes grew haunted. "It wasn't enjoyable, Ginny…I'm not going to lie to you. I had to do things…terrible things…"

Ginny pressed a kiss to his taut jaw and shook her head. "It's over. Forget it – forget them."

He was quiet for a long moment, and he swallowed. "I love you, Ginny."

The words came from out of the blue, and she blinked at him before she understood what he'd said.

"I love you, too, Draco…" She smiled at him, kissing his lips and resting her head over his heart. "I'm sorry about the eye, by the way."

"It's all right – I'll get revenge for it sooner or later."

"Hey! Hermione fixed it – there isn't even a bruise!"

"Doesn't matter – don't you know me by now?"

Ginny grumbled, but relaxed when his hand swept soothingly down her back.

He laughed suddenly, his chest rumbling under her cheek, and she raised her head with a questioning frown. "What?"

He motioned to the picture she'd pinned to her wall. "Have you kept that up there this entire time?"

"Yes," she said defensively. "Why?"

He cocked a brow and looked back at the picture, which was now scowling down at him.

"Nothing – I guess there's nothing wrong with wanting to wake up to a magnificent face like that every morning."

Ginny pinched his side, and he grabbed her wrists with a grin, rolling her beneath him.

"You know, your bed isn't terribly uncomfortable…I think we should stay in it for a while longer."

"You mean, we should sleep – it's been a very tiring evening."

"Sleep? Who the bloody hell said anything about sleep? I can sleep when I'm dead!"

Ginny smiled up at him, and ran her hands through his hair, mussing it until it fell around his face softly.

"You touched my hair…you're going to have to pay for that," he said nastily, narrowing his eyes.

Ginny sighed. "All right, Malfoy…how many months this time? I have another year of school, you know – I can't be bothered with meeting you every night."

"Well, obviously, three months isn't going to cut it this time," he said thoughtfully, looking down at her coolly. "There's no help for it – you'll just have to make it up after you graduate. How about we make an appointment for next June?"

Her heart beat wildly, as she froze beneath him. "How long exactly did you have in mind, Malfoy?"

"I think the next eighty years or so should cover it," he replied quietly, his expression challenging. "How about it, Weasley – feel up to it?"

Ginny found herself crying again, and rolled her eyes.

"Is the idea of marrying me that bad, Ginny?"

"No, you stupid prat – I just can't seem to stop crying, is all. Of course I'll marry you."

He lowered his head, touching her lips with his own, and she parted hers when he gently nudged them with his tongue.

She lost herself willingly in the soft, long, slow kiss, and made a sound of protest when he pulled away.

He smirked down at her, his hair falling into his pale eyes. "Well, Weasley, if that's how it's going to be between us, I guess I should return these to you."

Ginny shook her head as he dropped the soft silver scrap of fabric in the middle of her chest. "You want to know a secret, Malfoy?"

He groaned mockingly. "You have 'another' one?

Ginny pulled his head down to whisper in his ear.

"I really was thinking of your eyes when I bought those…"



The End

~***~

(A/N: Phew! Finished at last! ::rubs cramping hands together gleefully:: I really hope you guys enjoyed this – it was just a totally unoriginal, flukey idea, and it turned into one of my favorite stories – who'd have thought? ^_^ Yes, I know this part is too long – sorry! It just kept going and going…Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, or at least, got a laugh…somewhere…::cough:: Reviews would be very welcome!!! Thanks everyone, who already reviewed – have I told you how much you rock? Later! ~Lee)