Summary: When Ginny boarded the Hogwarts Express on the first of September, she was surprised to come face-to-face with the last person she expected to see back in school. He was still the same prat she remembered from years before, but now he has a much higher authority than ever before: he was this year's new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ginny wished this was all a dream, but to her dismay she was stuck with him for an entire school year!

Disclaimer: Once again I don't want to go through all the mumbo-jumbo of having to write this out, so I'm saying this now: NOT MINE!!! I keep on forgetting to add this on to this one: MAIN HP CHARACTERS AREN'T MINE, those other names you don't recognize are mine as well as the plot, and also other stuff that you don't recognize, kapish?

Setting: Ginny's in her 7th year; Draco graduated the year before

PhoenixRae's Notes: okay...i think i went a bit too far in my previous chappie with Derek outright hitting Ginny...anyways...there was Draco to the rescue! :::laughs:::

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

X. You Saved Me

Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Harry all kept a silent vigil by Ginny's bedside. Madam Pomfrey was having a hard time shooing them out of the hospital wing, even Hermione stayed with her friends and kept on asking Madam Pomfrey how Ginny was doing. Draco remained in the hospital wing as well, but he kept his distance from the small group clustered around Ginny's bed.

He already spoke with Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor House, and assured her Ginny was already stabled but she has yet to regain consciousness. Madam Pomfrey was kind enough to share with him her findings of Ginny's current condition. Professor McGonagall seemed relieved to hear that Ginny was doing fine.

"You will alert me when she regains consciousness, won't you Draco?" Minerva McGonagall asked hopefully, but she couldn't hide the worry from her tone, keeping her eyes fixed on the petite girl lying lifeless on the hospital bed surrounded by her family and friends.

"Of course, Professor," he nodded, "But Hermione will be staying with Ginny for a while, I'm sure she'll be able to do that for you."

"I know, Draco, I know," she patted him on the shoulder, she was so worried over Ginny's safety (that was quite a blow she received to the head and it wasn't to be taken lightly) that she couldn't think straight. "I'm just...I don't know what to say to her parents. I'm glad her brothers were here. At least they will be able to explain exactly what happened to their parents."

Draco could only nod. He pictured Molly Weasley's face in his mind. She was a good woman. Warm and friendly (from what he saw of her whenever she picked up her children at Kings Cross) even to those who weren't family members. Potter and Granger were lucky to receive the warmth the woman radiated. Draco knew Molly Weasley would be crushed with worry when she finds out what happened to her only daughter. Even Arthur Weasley would be under the same funk as his wife would be.

His fists clenched tightly, picturing in his mind his clenched fist connecting with Derek's jaw. The stupid prat was lucky he didn't come face to face with him after the match (McGonagall and Snape nearly yanked him off his broomstick while he was rushing Ginny to the hospital wing) or he would be sporting a nice shiner just about everywhere Draco's clenched fist connected with!

"How's Boones doing?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"Oh, he's hearing quite a sermon from Severus as we speak," Professor McGonagall sighed, tearing her gaze from Ginny's hospital bed and looked at one of her former students, "It's a good thing one of us had a clear head when Ms. Weasley fell off her broomstick. Granted we were all too stunned at what just happened to have thought of what to do right away."

"It's nothing, really, Professor. Call it quick reflexes," Draco didn't want to take credit for saving Ginny's life. He did what he had to do to save her, not earn hero points.

"Well, call it what you like, Professor Malfoy, you still saved her life and we are all very glad," she cast a quick glance at the four red-haired brothers hovering by Ginny's bedside and the dark haired boy who was sitting beside one of the newest teachers, comforting her and whispering something to quell the shaken Arithmancy teacher. "I'm sure they're all grateful for what you did, Draco. They're still in shock right now, but I know they are forever thankful for what you did to save Ms. Weasley."

= = = = = * * * = = = = =

Hermione felt someone tap him on the shoulder. She lifted her head up and looked over her shoulder and found Draco standing there, holding a plate of food and offered it to her.

"You didn't show up for dinner and I know you're going to be really hungry," he said as he shoved the plate to her.

"I'm not really hungry, Malfoy," she pushed the plate back at him, but Draco wouldn't hear any of it.

"Eat, Granger," he ordered and grabbed her hand, placed it on the edge of the plate he was offering and pushed it back to her. "The Weasleys and Potter already left two hours ago. You don't want to occupy the bed next to Weasley now, do you?" he tried to make do with jokes to ease the tension in the air, and he succeed--a bit anyway.

Hermione smiled and accepted the plate of food he offered her.

"I can't eat it here. Madam Pomfrey will have a fit!"

"Then go to your room and eat it there. You need to take a rest, Granger. You've been by Weasley's side since we brought her in here hours ago," he pointed out matter-of-factly.

Hermione was tempted to take Draco's offer, but she cast a worried look on Ginny's lifeless form lying on the bed. She wanted to be there in case she woke up and wouldn't know where she was. Draco followed Hermione's gaze and understood her hesitation.

"I'll stay with her," he offered, surprising both him and Hermione at his suggestion.

"Did--did I just hear you right, Malfoy?" she couldn't help herself from sounding shocked because she was indeed shocked.

"I--I believe you just did," he mumbled, turning a pair of startled gray eyes at his colleague. "Now if you were really so smart you'd take advantage of the situation and leave before I change my mind," he smirked, but he won't likely be changing his mind any time soon.

"If you're really sure..."

"Just go, Granger. God knows you need to rest. That was quite an action you experienced this afternoon. Besides, I don't want Potter come bearing down on me if he finds out you decided to join Weasley by taking up the empty hospital bed beside her," he couldn't help from teasing the not-so-bushy-haired teacher. Honestly she needed some cheering up after what happened this afternoon.

"Wha--wha..." Hermione was at a loss for words as she stared up at Draco in horror. He was just baiting her, wasn't he? He didn't honestly think that Harry would really worry too much about her, did he? And did he just hint that he knew she fancied her best friend? That would be absurd, but the mirth she glanced dancing about in his gray eyes told her he was teasing her and yet he suspected something. She'd be damned if she let him in on some secret of hers! They might have gotten over their differences (her a Muggle-born and him a Pureblood), but that doesn't mean they were already bosom-buddies!

"Just go, Granger," he repeated more seriously this time, pulling her off the chair she had been using since this afternoon. "I'll notify you as soon as she wakes up," he assured her when Hermione looked like she was about to protest again.

Hermione agreed after a few more cajoling from Draco. He was right, of course, she needed to take a rest and put some food into her system. She remembered the last meal she ate was at lunch before the start of the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin; her stomach must've growled numerous times since she sat vigil by Ginny's bedside since she was brought in later this afternoon. With one final reminder to Draco to remind her as soon as Ginny stirred, she left the hospital wing with a plate of tasty food prepared for her.

Draco pulled the chair up closer to Ginny's bedside, placing it at level with her head and sat down.

She looked like an angel asleep like that. She was already changed into her jammies, a pastel pink shade with cute little bears printed on it. It was cotton unlike his silk, black ones. There was a huge bruise on the side of her head where Derek hit her with the club. His blood still boiled at the reminder of what that bastard did this afternoon. He had no right to do what he did; the game might be dirty as it was, but to outright pull a stunt like that was outrageous!

His hands balled into a tight fist once more as it rested on the armrest of the chair Hermione vacated. Derek never really loved Ginny despite of what he told her during those two months they were together. Draco knew Derek's real intention when he sought out Ginny and eventually won the Gryffindor girl.

Derek wanted to get back at Draco.

A girl Derek fancied didn't fancy him back, instead she wanted Draco and him being his usual self, he didn't pass up the opportunity to snag a girl as lovely and accommodating as that chick from Hufflepuff.

Somehow Derek found out Draco's infatuation with the red-haired Gryffindor girl; how Derek found out Draco still doesn't know, but maybe the damn git often caught him watching Ginny from afar; giving her longing glances then abruptly looking away whenever she happen to glance his way.

Yes. He fancied Ginny Weasley. It took him by surprise when he first realized what his feelings for the cute (yes, he even thought of her as cute) Gryffindor. He didn't want to, not really, but then who could really tell one's heart to close up when it found something nobody else has seen in another person?

Secretly he longed for the youngest Weasley, defending her as best as he could and tried not to insult her as much as possible. Of course he had to keep up appearances to cover up his feelings. That day on the train when he walked in on her reading alone in one of the compartments he almost gave in to his feelings. She looked up from reading whatever book she was reading (he knew it wasn't a school book because it was so small it can hardly pass up for one of the numerous Hogwarts textbooks), her eyes bright and her lips smiling a genuine smile. She thought he was Hermione. As soon as she realized who he was her smile disappeared and was then replaced by a scowl she only reserved from him (he knew she hated his guts so badly after all that he did to her and her brothers over the years). Nevertheless she took his breath away. Thank God for small mercies and Granger showed up when she did. Her presence in the compartment quelled his libido a bit and made him concentrate on something else other than temptation that was Ginny.

He first realized he fancied her at the beginning of his sixth year. She started to change around that time. She hung out more with girls her own age and dogged Potter, Weasley, and Granger even less. She seemed to look more alive whenever she was out with her friends. He often stopped in the hallway to look out at the courtyard whenever he caught a glimpse of her flaming red hair glistening against the sunlight. He would lounge against one of the pillars, his eyes focused on her smiling face as she posed for Creevey's camera. How many times was he tempted to corner Creevey in the hallways and demand for a copy of Ginny's picture--any picture--to keep for himself? Tons of times, but he never pulled through with it.

When Derek sought her out he nearly punched the living daylights out of the stupid boy. Derek wanted to get even with him, that was already a given factor. And another reason was that he wanted to have Ginny in the biblical sense of the word. Whether Derek succeeded in bedding Ginny or not was something Draco rather not know about; in his mind Ginny Weasley was as pure as the first snowfall on the ground, never been touched, never been tarnished, that was Ginny.

Draco was pulled from his sudden reverie when he heard a soft whimper from the bed. Ginny was moving about, pushing down her blanket and a pained expression on her face. He was off his chair at once and sat down on the bed by her waist.

"Ginny?" he called her name softly, his hands grasping her wrists to stop her from thrashing the bed.

Ginny kept on moving her head from side to side, her face still contorted in a painful grimace. She stopped struggling with him though when she heard her name being called by someone. Her head hurt was hurting like hell. It felt like a thousand wild animals was doing a grand stampede inside her head, driving her nuts in the process.

"Ginny," Draco shook her lightly when she kept on moaning and groaning, wincing every now and then. "Stop moving, it'll only hurt more if you keep on moving," he advised her although he doubted she heard him.

That voice...it sounded so familiar and yet she couldn't put her finger to it. Nevertheless the mere sound of it started to soothe her a bit, made her stop thrashing about in bed. She didn't know how long she had been out, but it took her a while to peel her eyes open to see who owned the soothing voice.

Draco knew she was coming around. Her eyes started to move behind her closed eyelids. He knew he should move back in case she opened her eyes and found him hovering above her, but for the life of him he couldn't do it.

Ginny slowly pried her eyes open, blinking rapidly as it adjusted to the dimly lit room. She knew she wasn't in her dorm room the instant her eyes focused on the ceiling over the top of the blond head that was hovering just above her face. She had to refocus her gaze and looked right into a pair of sincere gray eyes. She took a deep breath when she recognized whom those eyes belonged to.

"Draco," his name came out as a whisper from her hoarse lips, her brown eyes still fixed with his.

It was the first time he heard her call him by his Christian name. It sounded natural coming out from her lips.

"I'm here, Gin," he assured her, reaching over his hand to touch the side of her forehead, careful not to press hard on the side where Derek hit her with the club.

Did he just call her Gin? She must be hallucinating. Since when in the world did Draco Malfoy start calling her by her given name? Well, her nickname, but nevertheless he addressed her as 'Gin' instead of 'Weasley' which he often favoured calling her!

"W-what happened?" she asked the first question that popped into her mind, "Did-did we--er, did Gryffindor win?"

Draco smirked, "Hart caught the snitch and earned Gryffindor hundred and fifty points to add to your eighty," he nodded.

Ginny grinned, "So we won, 230 to 70. That's nice."

"It was awesome," Draco corrected her, shocking Ginny.

"Shouldn't you be rooting for Slytherin?" she raised an eyebrow (or tried to anyway, the mere action caused her head to hurt).

"Yeah, I should," he snorted, "But after what that damn Boones pulled do you think I'd be proud to cheer them on?"

She smiled slightly, "How is that asshole by the way?"

"Oh that asshole's banned from playing for five matches--or for the rest of the reason if I had my say, but the headmaster was a bit lenient and only suspended him for five. And he'd be serving detention for two whole months."

"Really? Wow..." she looked impressed, "I say serves him right for being an outright bastard," she said with enough conviction in her voice.

Draco chuckled and nodded his agreement. He was so happy she was alright.

"Does your head still hurts?" he asked, looking at the huge black and blue bruise forming on the side of her head.

"Like a bitch," she muttered, wincing when she felt a slight pang of pain course through her entire body at the slightest of movement.

"I'd suspect. What Derek did was uncalled for, and he did get an earful from Snape, McGonagall and I think Dumbledore as well."

"Thanks, Professor," she smiled.

Draco frowned. What was she thanking him for? For staying here with her? For saving her life? What?

Ginny read the question etched on his face and explained, "You did save my life, didn't you? You were the one who caught me before I hit the ground."

"But you were unconscious."

"I was getting unconscious. I didn't actually pass out until I felt myself falling into your arms."

"Oh," Draco averted his gaze from her then, "And at what point after you fell into my arms did you pass out?"

Ginny grinned slowly. She was making him nervous. Was she still conscious when he planted that kiss on her forehead? Did she hear him assure her that she'd be alright?

"Professor, let me just say that you have the softest lips ever to graze my forehead," she teased.

Draco blushed. He actually blushed! Ginny couldn't believe it. Even in the dimly lit room of the hospital wing she saw his cheekbones turn a light shade of pink.

"Then uhm...then uhm...well then I think I should take that as a compliment then," he looked very uneasy around her now.

Ginny chuckled softly, "I thought I was dreaming when I felt your lips touched my forehead. And I thought I was just hallucinating when you called me 'Gin' before you kissed me."

"I was just relieved that you were alright."

"And I thank you for saving me."

"It's no problem, Weasley," he smiled back.

Ginny returned his smile, her eyes drowning into the depths of his smiling gray ones. His face was still hovering just above hers. They were talking in whispered voice so they wouldn't disturb anyone. She was suppose to still be resting and he shouldn't be tiring her out by talking to her, but this was only one of those rare moments they had where they could be together and talk without any barriers; he wasn't a teacher at Hogwarts and she wasn't a student; they were just two people sitting in a dimly lit room with the girl lying on the bed recuperating after suffering a terrible manhandling.

Draco was very much tempted to taste her tempting lips right at that very moment. She was just a breath away from him and he could've easily swooped his head down and claimed her lips, but there were still some protocol he must follow; certain school rules they must abide to. If he was still a student here he wouldn't mind doing what his libido, his mind, and his heart had been wanting to do to her for so long; but he wasn't a student here any more. He was a teacher now, one of the respectable teacher with a rep to uphold. Although he has heard of the rumours Derek obviously started after catching him and Ginny yesterday afternoon after class, he doesn't know how long it will be before the rest of Hogwarts put two and two together to come up with the correct answer.

He took heed of Ginny's advice and went straight to the headmaster before rumours started to spread about. He explained to Dumbledore as best he could what Derek walked in on. He left out the part of him wanting to kiss Ginny so badly, but the twinkle in the elder wizard's eyes told Draco he knew what he really wanted to do. When rumours assailed the next day of a certain teacher fancying a certain student, Draco prepared for his and Ginny's name to be dropped; thankfully it were all just speculations amongst students and he wasn't the only one being suspected of fancying a student. His two other new male colleagues were prime target of the students to gossip about. He heard Ginny's name thrown into their speculations once or twice, but nobody has confirmed anything yet.

After this afternoon's stunt that you pulled, I think the entire school will finally draw their conclusion as to who that mystery teacher and student were, a voice at the back of his head chided.

Draco tried to quash that thought out, but it kept on nagging him at the back of his head. Kissing Ginny like that in public--no matter how brotherly the action was--was definitely uncalled for. He had no right, as a teacher with no relationship whatsoever with the student, to show his emotion towards one of his charges, but he couldn't help himself. He was just as relieved as everyone else that Ginny was safe and sound albeit a bit bruised, but she was safe nevertheless.

Ginny lay there in anticipation. She could see Draco's head moving closer and closer still. He was going to kiss her now. She could feel her toes tingling and her spine pretty much having the same sensation as her toes. She didn't know why she was so excited that he was going to kiss her, all she knew was she couldn't wait to feel his soft lips crush hers in what she knew would be an explosive, passionate kiss. It doesn't matter if they get caught, just as long as she had a taste of him...then she could forget about him because she knew in her hearts of heart a relationship between a Malfoy and a Weasley could never be forged.

Draco's eyes were still fixed on Ginny's, his head continuing its downward motion until his lips were a couple of inches above hers. He inhaled her scent. She still smelled delicious even after all that sweat she had while playing Quidditch.

"Oh! You're finally awake!" exclaimed Hermione from the doorway, her hands to cover her mouth and her eyes smiling.

Draco quickly pulled his head away and turned to face his colleague who was standing at the doorway, "I thought I told you to stay in your room, Granger?" he demanded.

Hermione removed her hands from her mouth and glared at Draco, "And I thought you promised you'd wake me as soon as she regains consciousness, hm?" she challenged.

"She just woke up a couple of minutes ago," he lied.

"Oh really?" she put her hands on her hips and watched the former Slytherin bad boy and her best friend's youngest sibling. She knew what would've happened if she hadn't walked in on them, but she'd keep her mouth shut about it.

"Yes, really," he insisted.

"Well, since I'm here now, mind if I have a few words with Ginny before I head back to my room?"

"Why certainly," Draco got up from Ginny's side and gestured for Hermione to step up and take his place. He looked down at his student and smiled, "Have a good night, Weasley. I'll just see you in the morning or on Monday at breakfast," he didn't wait for her to say anything, he quickly walked away and in passing Hermione he thought he saw her grinning like the Cheshire cat at him.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

A/N: phew! thank you all for those wonderful reviews of yours! and by your demand, here's the next chapter! *lol* i decided to throw in a bit of...uh...romance? nah, romance wasn't even thrown in here! anyways, hope you all enjoyed this one. it's a bit longer...seems like my last few chapters tends to get longer and longer! *lol* anyways, comments/suggestions are very welcome...

OpalKoboi: she has it all meaning she has Draco??? hehehehe

Angel-Hiragizawa32: don't worry, i ain't hiding him in my closet! i know quite a few peeps would love to get his hide kicked so there's no way i'm gonna let him ruin my closet by simply hiding there!

slytherin-cool: awww...thank you! :::blushes:::

SeZzA: you can't find anything to criticize, eh? well that's good then, huh? hehehehe

Faltering Hues: yep, i love those Weasleys too that's why at every given chance i get i want them in it! *lol*

myobgirly: wow...i'm glad the situation twyla was in a couple of chapters back could be related to a similar situation with you. and as for their kissing...i want to build up the suspense until they could actually finally get it together *lol*

Adria: you're vying for a Twyla/Percy ship, eh? hehehe, well we'll see how we can incorporate their ship here...i mean, George already made a crack about Twyla's crush on Percy...now it's Percy's reaction we gotta find out...hehehehe

HERMMES (not Lord TigerVII): hehehehe :::winks::: thanks for your review! i'm doing my best to continue as fast as i could

kellyanne: yep...and of course that kiss will result in further speculations...hmmm....

Redmeadow: thanks for liking how Draco and Ginny's character in this fic...and i'll try to update as often as possible

*karly*: hehehe, well here's more :::smiles:::

hypermonkey67: well here's the continuation...you don't have to wait long for it

sassw14: yep, damn Derek indeed! hehehehe, and i think Draco & Ginny admitted their feelings one way or the other...it just needs to be explored a little bit...

Crystal: oh she definitely knows, although she thought she was only dreaming it! *lol*

Jenn: i'm thinking of getting them together too...it'll be a fun sub-plot line to write about Percy and Twyla...

Xela: i think the 'almost kiss in the hospital wing' is in this chappie...as for your first question...well, Ginny will just have to answer that question--in the next chapters, hehehehe

Lil Lady: yep, quite a lot of people said they despise Derek Boones.

Polgara: hehehe, oh he's going to get it soon...

lama: *lol* calm down, sweetie, calm down...here, here is the next chapter. hope this is enough for now while i tinker away with the chapter after this...

Cassandra Sisenta or Krey-Zey: i don't think any of the students were blind...but then again they were too busy...watching Ginny fall off her broomstick...uh...so yeah, i think the entire school saw what happened! *lol* and yep, keep me posted about your updates on your story

hasapi: oh for sure i will be having fun writing! hehehehe :::winks:::

MYSTIQUE: hehehe, i always enjoy reading some ramblings from my reviewers, hehehehe

Starry: thanks! i was worried i didn't do that Quidditch scene some justice

happy kid: oh Ginny's fine...she's just peachy fine :::winks:::

txt-eva: Hero Draco to the rescue, eh?

DaRkShAdOwS: i wish i could've seen her face too, but anyway, thanks for the award! i didn't know if that crack i wrote about embarrassing Percy worked or not, but i guess it did, hehehe...and Derek loving Ginny? uuhhh...well, i think Derek's true intentions were explained in this chappie

Anyanka: good...good...hehehe, he better not be really exhausted after you've had your fun with him! *lol* and as for Derek's punishment...Ginny still hasn't thought of what to do to him, but I'm sure her brothers (and Harry) have...hehehehe

Sara: that could be arranged, hehehehe

Hannah4Daniel: well, it's nice to have you back again! and i'll do my best to update LGO and F4U, but right now i'm so psyched-up with this fic to actually continue on those two fics, but eventually i'll get around to finishing those two

Lonely tenshi: yep, there was a slight bit of d/g action in the previous chapter

Persephonie: i don't think Derek has enough brains to realize that he just declared a world war against the Weasley boys, the Boy Who Lived, and two teachers! *lol*

Sharlene: who else do you think won the game?! hehehehe, and calm down, Derek will get his due in no time at all

demented weesil: you need more Draco, eh? well, is there enough Draco in this chapter for you, hm?

SAngel: yep, it'll be sooo bad he'd be thinking first before doing anything!

Loves-Kiss: oh yeah, Ginny sounded kinda like Scarlett O'Hara in chappie 8, didn't she? hehehehe and I'll see what I can do about Draco, Ginny, and Draco's desk...hehehehe, but I'll just probably have to email it to you if ever I do get around to writing about it! *lol*