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: hmm...I'll try and get a bit of action and some fluff in this chap since the previous chap is filled with...well, lotsa love and laughter! *lol*
PhoenixRae's Notes 2: uuuhhh...well, I did get to include some fluff here...and I think I just warn you that the rating might get a bit 'R', but don't worry, it won't be as graphic as chapter 21--I hope!
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XXV. Sleepless Night
Ginny had some trouble sleeping Christmas Eve. She didn't have that much to eat during dinner but she still had trouble sleeping. She kept on tossing and turning in bed, trying to find a comfortable position so she could fall asleep like her three roommates, but it was to no avail.
Finally she gave up trying and went downstairs to make herself some hot chocolate. Maybe that would help her fall asleep. She quietly snuck out of her room and tiptoed down the stairs, careful not to make a squeaky sound as she descended the stairs.
"Sneaking off somewhere, Ginger?"
Ginny jumped and let out a tiny squeak at the sound of Draco's voice. He was sitting on the armchair by the fire facing the stairs.
Clutching her chest with one hand and the stair guard railing with the other, she sent the man seated across the room a piercing glare.
"Jeez, Blondie! Next time make a sound before you kill someone from fright!" she hissed and stalked angrily away from the stairs, "What are you doing up anyway?"
"I couldn't sleep," he shrugged and cocked his head ot the side, some of his blond locks flaling on his face, "What are you doing up?" he asked.
"Same as you, actually. Came down here to grab myself a cup of hot chocolate," she replied.
"I just made some in the kitchen. Help yourself."
Ginny looked surprised, "You made hot chocolate?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," he nodded.
"And you didn't burn it or anything?"
Draco made a face at her. "Weasley..."
Ginny laughed softly and waved him off, "Just teasing you, Professor," she turned her back and went into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of his freshly made hot chocolate. She took a quick sip of it first to make sure it was edible, and she was impressed at how good it tasted; it wasn't too sweet nor too dark-chololatey tasting. It just tasted right.
She went back into the living room and found that Draco already moved from the armchair to the sofa facing the fireplace. He was nursing his cup of hot chocolate in one hand while it rested on top of the armrest and his gaze was transfixed on the dancing fire.
"I see that the presents are all wrapped-up and tucked under the tree," she spoke, breaking the silence and surprising the sole occupant of the living room.
Draco broke his eye contact with the fire and glanced at Ginny who stood at the other end of the sofa. He patted the empty seat beside him and asked her to join him, which she didn't hesitate in accepting. She made herself comfortable beside him, tucking her legs underneath her and leaned back.
"You didn't get anybody any presents, did you?" she asked, her eyes still fixed on the presents under the tree.
"Would you believe me if I tell you that I did?" he asked teasingly.
Ginny tore her gaze from the overflowing presents and stared at him wide-eyed, "You're kidding me, right?"
Draco smiked, "Would I kid you, Ginger?"
She frowned, "But how were you able to buy us all a present? I mean, you don't really know any of us that well."
"Oh, let's just say I had a little help from somebody," he shrugged, breaking eye contact with her and taking a sip of his hot chocolate.
"You mean Hermione helped you?"
"I don't kiss and tell, Weasley."
"Yeah-huh. Well, whether you kiss and tell or not, I know it was Hermione who helped you."
"Believe what you want to believe."
Ginny kept quiet after that, sitting back and focusing her eyes back on the roaring fire. Her hands cupped the steaming hot cup of hot chocolate resting on her knee. Draco did the same and watched the fire danced in the hearth, sipping on hot chocolate every once in a while and just sat there in silence with her.
Soon Ginny felt the call of sleep beckoning for her. Her eyelids were starting to droop. It was getting harder and harder to concentrate on the dancing fire as her head started to fall forwards. Draco noticed that his companion was already halfway falling asleep. He knew sooner or later she would conk-off and she would make a mess if her hand slipped on the cup she was holding.
Placing his now empty cup on the coffee table, he twisted his body sideways and gingerly took Ginny's cup from her nearly lifeless hands. He placed it on the coffee table beside his cup and turned back to shake Ginny awake, but she did something he didn't expect her to do.
She curled up against him as soon as he straightened up from putting her cup away. He was shocked at her bold action and remained rooted to where he was for a couple of seconds. He didn't know what to do with her. He had to get her back upstairs and in bed so he could go back to Ron's room which he was sharing with him and Harry, but Ginny was burrowing herself against him more snugly, letting out a cute sigh of contentment as she pressed her face against his chest.
"Ginny?" he whispered, "Ginny, wake up," he shook her gently, his hand clamping on her shoulder and moved her, but Ginny only made an annoyed sound and slapped his hand to stop him from shaking her.
Draco cursed under his breath. She wouldn't budge and he had to do something. He lifted her off his chest gently as he slid off the sofa, letting her lie on it horizontally as he straightened up, stretched a few kinks off his arms before leaning down to scoop her off the sofa and carry her upstairs to her bedroom. Just as he was about to lift her off the sofa, Draco was in for another surprise.
Ginny's arms snaked up and wrapped around his neck, pulling his face down closer until it was just a few inches from her face. Her lips started to curl into a seductive grin and her eyes slowly peeled open until it focused on his face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, hm?" she asked softly.
"Uh...taking you upstairs to your room?" he answered uncertainly.
"And why is that?"
"Because you're already nodding off."
"But I like it here," she insisted.
"It's really uncomfortable--" he was cut off when she placed an index finger against his lips.
"I won't be really uncomfortable if you join me. Besides, I've slept on this sofa one too many times to know it's not uncomfortable," there was a hint of playfulness in her eyes, and Draco knew it was dangerous to play along with her, not when they were at her house with the rest of her family sleeping upstairs.
"Ginny..." he hissed.
"Hey, you promised me a warm, cozy snuggling by the fire to warm us up. Well I am warm and comfy right now, so why don't you come back here and join me, hm?" she raised an eyebrow questioningly at him.
"Hell, Gin! I was only teasing at the time," his voice sounded strangled.
"Well, joking or not, I kinda liked the idea of snuggling with you in front of a roaring warm fire. So get your butt back on this sofa and let's just enjoy the warmth of the fire together, shall we?"
Damn, but she was being impossible! And he wanted to kiss her so badly right now she wouldn't believe how much he ached for her. All day long he had been in a state of want for her, especially while he stood real close to her in the kitchen baking some cookies and preparing some desserts.
"I might...I might kiss you, Gin," he confessed through strangled breath.
Ginny's eyes widen and her lips curled into a wide grin, "Then kiss me, Draco. God knows I've been wanting you to kiss me since I saw you with some sugar icing smudged on your cheek this afternoon!"
Draco thought he was just hearing things. He stared at the redhead in his arms for the longest time, deciphering if she was indeed serious or not, but the look in her eyes told him she was dead serious.
Draco swore he heard an angel choir sing hallelujah as his head swooped down and captured her mouth. He felt like a man lost in the desert for days and just found an oasis of fresh water. He drank the taste of her, hot chocolate and something else, tasting it from her lips and savouring the feeling as he darted his tongue out of his mouth and cajoled her soft lips to part and let him in.
Ginny's hand moved up and raked through his mop of blond locks while the other rested on his shoulder. She tilted her head to the side and parted her lips at his tongue's urgent prodding, moaning in delight as Draco deepened the kiss, gathering her in his arms. He knelt down beside her, one hand cupping her neck and his other arm wrapped around her waist, hauling her tiny body close to him.
Ginny pushed herself up to a sitting position, straddling Draco between her thighs as they continued to kiss. Both their hands did some wandering on its own. She felt Draco's warm hand parting her nightgown and slipping his hand inside, cupping a feel of her ample-sized breast, causing her to moan in surprise. She undid his robe he had on and pushed it off his shoulders, her hands spanning the broadness of his chest.
Draco's hand wandered lower still, clutching the hem of her nightgown and slipped his hand underneath, moving slowly up her thigh, caressing it gently before moving higher still to cup her breast. Ginny groaned against his lips as he continued to caress and fondle her breasts, his mouth moving away from her lips to travel down her jaw to her neck, kissing a path down to her cleavage visible from her nightgown.
Things were starting to get hot and heavy between them, with Draco's mouth and hands roaming about freely on her, and Ginny found it all the more difficult to push him away with the way his mouth was playing with her breasts over the fabric of her nightgown.
This was insane. They both knew that. They could get caught any second now by somebody who couldn't sleep either, but none of it seemed to matter. Ginny was willing to risk being caught by her parents or brothers--or even by her friends--, all she wanted was to be in Draco's arms and stay there forever.
Draco was half on top of her and half on the floor still when they heard a creaking sound from upstairs that quickly stopped them from what they were doing. For a few agonizing seconds they remained the way they were, Draco lying halfway on top of Ginny whilst she lay on the couch. Their ears perked up to listen to any more sounds from upstairs. When they were certain nobody was awake and going down the stairs, they let out a sigh of relief and slowly disentangled themselves from each other.
They straightened their clothing in silence. Ginny remained seated on the sofa while Draco moved near the fireplace as he straightened his robe, his back facing the tempting vixen on the sofa. Once he was certain she looked presentable once again, he slowly turned and faced her. His gray eyes sought her brown ones, both of them yearning still for the other's touch, but they knew they must stop now before things got way out of hand.
"That was a close call, Gin," he said finally to break the silence.
"Ye-yeah," she nodded, breaking eye contact with him and instead rested her gaze on the dancing fire.
Silence befell them once again, neither one speaking nor moving. Ginny let out a long, deep sigh and looked back at the man standing across from him, "Why don't you sit here beside me? It's much more comfier," she invited.
"I can't," he declined.
"Why not?" she frowned.
"Because...because I don't trust myself to be near you right now, Ginger, that's why," he replied followed by a deep, strangled sigh.
"Why? You don't have any self-restraint?" she couldn't help teasing.
He said he doesn't trust himself to be near her right now, does that mean that he felt the same way she felt for him? Does he want her so badly like the way she wanted him so badly right now?
"Ginny..." he hissed.
Ginny took a deep breath and cocked her head to the side, her eyes slowly assessing him before it rested on his face. "Look, so we're physically attracted to each other, we already know that, but we managed to play down our hormones over the past few weeks, haven't we? I mean, until a few minutes ago anyway," she shrugged.
"Look, I can't--"
Ginny raised her hand and stopped him from finishing his sentence, "I'm not asking you for a forever after, Malfoy. I'm just merely inviting you to sit with me and watch the fire. That's all."
That's all, she said. Hell, that wasn't all he wanted to do with her right now! She drives him insane with want and he knew he couldn't do a single damn thing about it! She was this forbidden fruit in the garden that he mustn't touch or suffer the consequences of spoiling that sacred fruit.
"Just watch the fire?" he echoed.
"Yeah," she looked genuinely sincere that that was all she wanted.
He couldn't take any chances with her. He couldn't hurt her not after the way he witnessed her entire family adored her.
"I don't want to hurt you, Ginny," he said under his breath.
Ginny made a face at him, "By sitting with me? C'mon, Professor! You can't hurt me by sitting beside me to watch the fire!" she teased.
"I know. What I meant is..." his voice trailed off when he saw Ginny got up from the sofa and crossed the room to where he stood. She wrapped her hands around his wrists and guided him back to the sofa, pushing him down to sit as she snuggled down beside him, grabbing the afghan placed on the backrest and draped it over them.
"You won't hurt me, Draco, it just isn't in you to be that cruel," she told him lovingly, her brown eyes holding his gaze and the smile on her face genuine. "So just sit there and relax and let's watch the fire until morning comes and it's time to open presents, alright?"
Draco couldn't argue with that reasoning. She was so sure he wouldn't hurt her and yet he was scared shitless that he just might. Finally he succumbed to the warmth coming from the hearth and from the lovely woman beside him. Draping his arm around her, he pulled her closer to his side and rested his head against the top of her head that was resting on his shoulder.
Together they watched the fire dance before them, reminiscing about the last few days' events and stored them away in the vault at the back of their heads. Draco had a few good Christmas memories to take away with him and look back on every now and then. What he had with Ginny right now...it won't last. She deserved more than what he could give her. She deserved someone who knows how to love and return the love she learned from her family. He wasn't that someone who could do that. He grew up in a home without love to speak off. He grew up in a home so cold at times he thought he would die of frostbite.
No, he wasn't that someone for her. He would cherish every moment he could have with her, then after this year was over he would forget her and let her live the life that was more fitting for her than what he could offer.
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A/N: ooookay...I think I got a bit sad and dramatic near the end there. heck, I was nearly brought to tears as I was typing this last part! but we did see some Draco/Ginny action in this one. what do you guys think? and don't worry, the presents will appear in the next chapter. again thanks for all your wonderful reviews!
izzy: I know Hermione falling for either one of the twins will be hilarious...but I'm just not sure I'll be able to pull off that love-story line...hehehehe
Crystal: the Weasleys aren't all that snobbish! they're warm, loving, welcoming family...it's only the twins and Ron who have some problems with Draco, but I'm sure Hermione, Ginny, Janelle, and Twyla will be able to straighten them out *lol*
meLisSa: joke stuff gifts for the twins, eh? hmm...too vague, but I already got an idea for a gift for them and the others as well :::smiles:::
Xela: an almost kiss between Percy and Twyla...and a Harry/Hermione action? hehehe, well, that former could be arranged and as for the latter...hehehe, I think it could be arranged too! *lol*
Angel-Hiragizawa32: I want some cookie too...while they were making the chocolate crinkles I am imagining craving for some of it too! *lol*
wowsergirl: you weren't mistaken. I'm trying to pair-up Ron with Janelle...but we'll see how that story line develops.
margarinequeen: thanks for loving this story. and before I wasn't into writing a Draco/Ginny fic before, but I just tried out my luck after getting so many ideas and here's the result
Faltering Hues: yeah, isn't it nice that Harry and Ron are warming up to him even though they still don't trust him well enough to let him date Ginny? hehehe
ashes: thanks for loving the pink apron part! *lol* I couldn't resist from inserting it in the story...I wanted to have some fun with the boys :::winks:::
Angharrad: I know Penelope and Percy are an established couple in most fics, but in this one...well, I think I have to explain Penelope's absence, right? hmm...maybe when Percy already got the guts to ask Twyla out we'll find out what happened between him and Penelope
hasapi: Christmas its taking its time to arrive! *lol* and as for Draco's final thoughts in the previous chapter...hehehe, of course we all know what's going to happen :::winks:::
JaNx: thanks for enjoying the previous chapter! I meant for everyone to have a good laugh while reading it...and I think I finally got some Ginny/Draco action going in this chapter
syders: thanks for loving Mission, it was my first finished D/G story. and here's the next chapter. it's not as funny as the previous ones, but the mood/humour will pick-up in the next chapters (gotta give some dramatic-fluffy moment between Draco & Ginny, hehehehe)
Nicole: now if either one of them called each other by their given nicknames to one another, it will sure cause a few eyebrows to go up, right? hehehe
Danielle: thanks for understanding Draco's feelings. yeah, he really does need a warm family like the Weasleys to make him more...uhm...human? not that he's not human at all, it's just that he's pretty much closed-up or something
Arella Hallo: hope you weren't tardy for your first hour! hehehe
Kodomo Cow: ooohh...you just named the top 3 hotties! Orlando Bloom (went crazy over him after watching him as Legolas in LOTR then he was even more hotter in Black Hawk Down), Sean Biggerstaff, and Tom Felton! *lol* it doesn't matter who's hotter out of this three...they're all hotties in my book! :::winks:::
Lia: LAW?!?!?!?! woman, are you out of your noodles?! *lol* and thanks for liking Draco & Co. wearing pink frilly aprons, I did get a laugh out of writing that scene. as for Percy not being one-dimentional...well, I noticed that in most fics he was described as work-obsessed, but I want my Percy to be more than just work-obsessed and straight-laced!
Miss Marauder: yep, it wasn't really that hard to picture the Weasley household in chaos with everyone there
Jade Stellar: you really think Ron & Janelle are cute together? hehehe, well I think so too
Lulu81: I'm glad you enjoyed this story. and I try not to dwell too much on description and all because believe me, sometimes it just bores me to death to read very long, vivid descriptions when a short one could've done the trick! *lol* as for Ron and Janelle...well, I'm trying to make them a couple. as for the rest of the Weasleys...the twins, Bill, & Charlie are all swinging single young lads (but maybe with a gf on the side we do not know about, hehehehe)
Bunny: thanks for finding the previous chap funny...I meant for it to be that way and I'm glad you had a good laugh (I hope)
slytherin-cool: so you're enjoying your break, eh? have fun! hehehe
Sharlene: of course they are! I mean, they have too...they'll forget all about that petty disagreement they had and be like old times again
Moon-Shone: don't worry, this is definitely a Draco/Ginny fic. I'm just throwing in the other couples for fun; the other couples are there to divert the attention from the main couple...well, not really, but they're there so Draco & Ginny could have a bit of fun sneaking around or something *lol*
death: I'm glad everyone found the Draco-in-pink-apron funny :::smiles:::
Wizzabee: just wanted to tug at your heart-strings there nearing the end of the previous chapter, but this is going to be a happily-ever-after fic...I hope, hehehehe
avapouhi: no problem. actually, it took me a while to figure out who will will sleep in whose room! *lol* but I know the girls will end up together, it's just the boys that I had problems with *lol*
Loves-Kiss: whoa! going to Aspen this summer, eh? good for ya! and hope you got the modeling job
Eva: I'm glad your violent mood is over! *lol* and I think Ginny's the only one who could actually kick Blondie's arse, hehehehe
Cactuskitty: it was my favourite incident too in the previous chapter, hehehe. btw, I'm reading your Ginny fic right now and I'm slowly working on getting to the final chapter, but I like it so far
butterfly kisses: thank you!
Ayesha97: I am not having writer's block again...well, not yet anyway, hehehe, I'm so on a roll with this story that I'm posting like a chapter a day!
MelissaAdams: I thought the presents will be in this chapter, but I had to push it to the next chappie
Cheater531: if the previous one was down right funny, well, this next one isn't, right?
kellyanne: *lol* I'm glad you're trying to get your mind out of the gutter...I am too :::winks::: and thanks for enjoying the previous chap!
omelette du fromage: I think they are already falling in love, but they're just showing it differently. as for indenting, bolding, and italicizing, I am using Microsoft FrontPage right now so I could do all these stuff...do you have FrontPage?
Jenn: I had an idea for a Percy/Twyla action in this chapter, but I don't want take away the spotlight from Draco and Ginny
Redbug: I think the Twyla/Percy thing is playing out...uh, just nicely?
dreamofTF: hehehe, something did happen between them in this chapter
Alli: I'm excited to write about his gifts to them too!
xangelcrisisx: well, I gotta put a bit of a 'reality' there somehow, hehehehe :::winks:::
Polgara: yep, they do make a cute couple
Kestral: he seems to fit in very well, doesn't he? hehehe, yep, I couldn't help giggling/laughing as I type up that cookie-stuffing scene
G. Zan: lucky you have a dog. the Weasleys doesn't so Draco was forced to eat it *lol*
Erin: thanks for checking out it! and thanks to your friend for recommending you to read this one, hehehe, it's good to know that my other readers liked this story enough to recommend it to others :::smiles:::
