Disclaimer is in the Prologue.

Dragon Tears

He didn't have to wait long before she "broke down" crying at the breakfast table and was comforted by Harry. She then ran out of the dining hall with her hands over her face and was followed by Potter, by the next day they were both smiling and holding hands. She still wore his necklace, and he still watched her.

Still there was a sadness in her eyes, a sadness that they agreed would stay for two weeks. During those two weeks was a quidditch game, Gryfinndor against Slytherin. He thought it was the most anxious time in his life. He was going to play against Harry, and with the heightening of the rivalry between them with Ginny, well he sure as hell was going to win this game. It seemed to go in a swirl, he remembered setting himself up in the air noting Potter, Weasley, Ginny, the Weasley twins, and the two other chasers, and then the members of his team before soaring into the air. All he needed to do was spot the snitch. That's all he needed. There were a flock of them already in his stomach, he thought. Cheers and boos mixed with the wooshing sound of broomsticks and enchanted balls, and he watched Potter, zooming around the field, as anxious to grab the snitch as he was. After all, they had the same thing to prove. That's when he saw it, the snitch. It was hovering around the young Miss Weasley. He shot towards it. Unfortunately, he saw, so did Potter. "Ginny!" She looked at Potter and him, the snitch's wings just barely brushing her ear. He smiled, remembering how she had gasped when he nibbled and sucked on her earlobe. She smiled, looking relaxed, despite the fact that two men much larger than her were hurtling at her at a breakneck speed. It was then the bludger hit her, snapping her back and sending her off the broom. Time froze for a moment just long enough for Draco to forget about the snitch and Harry at his side. He dived after her as he heard a gasp in his ears, then cheers, and then he caught her. He could see the pain in her eyes as he leaned her against his chest, and she heard his beating heart. Thump thump. Thump thump. He landed and set her on the ground gently and tucked the wisps of hair that had escaped from her ponytail behind her ear.

"You're going to be ok, Ginny."

"Spill it Malfoy."

"The hell do you want," Malfoy said, turning around in the mohagony desk chair, "And how the hell did you get in here?" he added after noting the redhead standing there.

"Why did you save my sister."

"Because she was falling."

"Harry could have done it."

"After he caught the snitch," he said coldly, "There wasn't enough time, and with her back broken like it was she wouldn't have made it."

"Then why didn't you go for the snitch."

"I didn't want to see her die, knowing I could have done something," he combed his hair back with his fingers, "How is she?"

"She has to spend the night in the hospital wing, but Madame Pomphrey said she's going to be ok." Draco nodded. "I still don't see why you saved her over the snitch." He looked at Draco who leaned back in his chair.

"Do you know that she has 247 freckles all over her body?" Ron wrinkled his nose. "She has a dimple in her cheek on the left side right here?" He pointed to the spot on his cheek. "Do you know I watch her every second that I can? That the necklace she wears around her neck I gave her?" He lowered his voice and locked eyes with Ron. "She gave me her virginity to get rid of me."

"What? You raped her! I know it! She told me-"

"Quiet," he said still using the same tone of voice, "Just listen, please." Ron fell angrily silent and leaned against the door frame. "Early during our supposed relationship after confirming that she was a virgin, I told her I would sleep with her on only one condition, that our little charade would end right after. It was the biggest mistake I made, sleeping with her. I didn't realize until I had seen her in her most pure and –for lack of a better word– dirty form. I didn't know how much I wanted to explore every nook and cranny of her body. For the first time I wanted to please her, not for the sake of knowing how but so that she could know what I felt for her. I took her innocence that day, and I regret taking it. I'm tormented now, by the image of her, the smell of her, the memories of her. Just yesterday I found one of her hairs in my bed. She made me feel again. Don't you see? I love her. I see her every day being lovey dovey with Potter and knowing that it will never be that way with me. She chose to sleep with me so that she could be with him. Potter's her hero. I'm just the conspirator. Today I got to be the hero."

"As much as I don't want to say this, why not just tell her?" Draco laughed, throwing his head back.

"Tell her? Are you mad? Don't you know who I am? I'm Draco Malfoy, she's Virginia Weasley. Our families would kill me, you included. The dark lord would use her or her family, perhaps killing them. I'm engaged to marry Pansy Parkinson because of my father. There's no possible way telling her would be any good. No, it's best to be tormented in solitude. Then she can never be hurt inadvertently." He placed his hand on his face, his fingers sprawling across his cheek with his ring finger in the crack on his lip. Ron could see Draco's thoughts wandering and he said goodbye and left.