Ok, I have no excuses (at least none that you want to hear) but anyway,
here is the final chapter. Thanks for all your support throughout this. I
don't know if I'll be writing anything for awhile, but if I do, I think
I'll finish it before I post anything online.
Thanks again!
Winner Takes All
Ginny was tempted to throw the cards back at Draco, but they had already established that was an exercise in futility. If she couldn't hurt him physically, then at least she could hit him where it counted - his pride. Losing all his clothing to a girl should have the desired effect. After all, nobody, not even some one with a body like Draco's, would want to walk back to the dorm naked.
Ginny could have slapped herself for putting the mental image of a naked Draco in her mind. It was repulsive, it was horrible, it was..
So tempting.
Quickly, as if to stem the tide of images that that one thought began, Ginny hurriedly dealt the cards. Draco noticed her discomfort, but blissfully chose not to comment on it.
Draco picked up and quickly perused his hand. Somehow, he knew it was now or never. The time was right to go for broke, to risk it and get those clothes.
He had to pause for a moment, though. 'I mean, if I like her so much, why am I so desperate to do something that I know is going to embarrass her? Shouldn't I just let her go?' Draco's conscience, it seemed, had caught up with him and was giving him the very uncommon feeling of guilt.
He shook it off. 'I know I don't have a chance with her. This is as close as I'm ever going to get. I might as well enjoy it while I can."
Unobtrusively, he began to take the last step that would assure his victory for the evening.
"Two, please."
Ginny handed him his cards, then helped herself to three. She stared at them. Blinking, she wondered if she was simply imagining it, but they remained unchanged. It seemed fortune was with her this evening, and had granted her a straight flush.
"I know we didn't ante in the beginning, so how about we start now. I'll bet you everything you have against everything I have."
"Fine."
"Winner takes all."
"Absolutely."
"One of us is about to leave the table naked."
"I couldn't have put it better myself," she said with a smile.
"Well then, time to show 'em."
They both lay their cards down simultaneously.
"Yes!" He thought.
"No!" She screamed.
There before her, lay her straight flush..and his royal one.
Horrified, she looked back and forth between his smug expression and her cards, the hand that had betrayed her.
"Well Vir-gin-ia. Time to pay up."
Ginny looked up at her opponent, chin trembling and tears threatening to fall. She had never really even been kissed, and now she was going to have to take off her clothes for her family's worst enemy.
And take them off she would because, despite everything, she was a Gryffindor, brave to the point of stupidity, and prizing her honor above most else in this world. No matter how much she didn't want to, no matter how painful it was, she wouldn't, couldn't back out of a deal, even if it was one made with the devil himself.
Standing up slowly, Ginny lifted her chin to steady it, and blinked back her tears. She may have to lose the clothes, but she would remain in control, even if it killed her.
Ginny took a deep breath, and reached around behind her for the clasp on her skirt and..
"Wait."
'What did he say?' she thought.
'What did I say?' he asked himself, but deep down, he knew. He couldn't make her go through with it. He had intended to use her honor against her, to manipulate her for a quick peek at the object of his obsession, but he just couldn't go through with it. Perhaps he was losing his edge, or perhaps he simply did have a heart, but he wouldn't make her do it. Draco would readily admit that he was a bastard, but seeing the object of his affections in emotional pain brought forth a protective instinct he didn't know he possessed. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her, and as he watched her so fiercely try to be brave, he knew that this was destroying his Ginny.
"You don't have to do this."
"A bet's a bet and I lost fair and squa."
"I really did think you would catch on quicker."
"Excuse me."
It felt awful, but it had to be done. The only way to help her to get over the embarrassment and forget his lapse into a decent guy was to make her mad.at him!
"I mean, I know Gryffs aren't known for their quick wit, but, Vir-gin-ia, it was so obvious that I was cheating."
"What!"
"It was fun and all, cheating you out of your clothing, seeing how far you were willing to go for a stupid toad, but I never had any real desire to see you naked. If I'd have known you'd be so dense about it, I would have never started this with you in the first place."
Ginny began to see red.
"Who know you were so gullible! Honestly, as if I would ever want to see your scrawny little.umph!"
Draco never did get to finish that thought, for at that moment Ginny finally managed to hit him with something..herself.
Scrambling over the table, Ginny leapt on Draco in her attempt to strangle him, knocking his chair, with him in it, over in the process.
Completely unaware of the compromising nature of her position, Ginny started smacking the boy that was now underneath her.
"You stupid, selfish, arrogant bastard! I swear I'm going to."
Draco desperately grabbed for Ginny's wrists. Although he would never admit it, the phrase 'hits like a girl' was very deceiving. It hurt!
It took three attempts, but on the third try, he managed to catch them. What he didn't count on was that Ginny's arm still had enough momentum from the swing to throw her off balance.
Ginny wasn't sure what had happened, but one minute she was beating up Draco, and the next she was flush against his chest .on top of him .both of them only partially clothed.
Ginny didn't know if this was a dream come true or her worst nightmare.
Draco was sure he had to be dreaming. The girl of his fantasies was merely inches away from his face, chest to chest with him. Granted, she wasn't there by her own design, but still, a guy had to take what he could get.
Before he could think the better of it, Draco quickly leaned up to catch her lips. One hand left her wrists and made it's way to the flaming red hair that had already begun to escape from its braid, the hair that he had wanted to touch for so long.
Ginny struggled, but only for a moment. It was only a token attempt anyway. She had never wanted anything more than she wanted that kiss at that moment. Relaxing, she spread her hands out over his chest for balance, and let herself get lost in that kiss.
And what a kiss it was. Draco kissed her slowly, thoroughly, like a drowning man desperate for air. He couldn't seem to get enough of her; she tasted like fresh rain, butterbeer, and all of his favorite things.
She couldn't get enough of him. Later, when she was able to think, she would come to believe that he had kissing down to an art, beyond the mundane and into the extraordinary. But for now, she was content to lose herself in the sensations that started wherever their skin made contact, and spread throughout her body as a warm glow.
And then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Pulling apart at the same time, breathing heavily, they simply looked at each other for a moment. Then, the spell broken, Ginny scrambled off him, turned toward the table, and in one movement, grabbed her clothes on her mad dash to the door. Not looking back, she ducked into a dark alcove and waited for her traitorous heart to quiet as she allowed the stones to cool her heated skin.
Back in the room, Draco slowly sat up in a daze. Mechanically, he reached for his things and put them on, one by one. Why he thought he could be satisfied with a simple encounter, he couldn't fathom. He was beyond obsessed. She was in his blood, his soul..his heart.
Bloody hell.
He was in love with her.
Sinking down in her chair, he stared at the remnants of the game; the only telltale reminders that what had taken place was not just a figment of his imagination. The cards, the butterbeer, the two glasses.. they were all still here. Only, she wasn't. She had been so desperate to escape him, she had left without demanding the toad - her entire purpose for coming. not that it mattered. The animal had been returned hours ago, anonymously by owl.
Draco put his head in his hands.
What was he going to do now?
What was she going to do now? Fully clothed, but no calmer, Ginny started back to her dorm room. It was all so confusing. Was Draco just toying with her? Did he really like her? And then there was that kiss, oh, that kiss.what did that mean and, how did she feel about it? After all, it was Draco.
Ginny's heart gave a small lurch. He was Draco, not Malfoy, not ferret boy, but Draco now. And far from regretting that kiss, she found herself relieving it, wondering if it would ever happen again. Longing for the boy that made her feel both miserable and alive at the same time.
Ginny suddenly stopped still in the middle of the hallway, shock registering on her face.
'Bloody hell,' she thought. 'I'm in love with him!'
THE END..OR IS IT JUST THE BEGINNING?
Thanks again!
Winner Takes All
Ginny was tempted to throw the cards back at Draco, but they had already established that was an exercise in futility. If she couldn't hurt him physically, then at least she could hit him where it counted - his pride. Losing all his clothing to a girl should have the desired effect. After all, nobody, not even some one with a body like Draco's, would want to walk back to the dorm naked.
Ginny could have slapped herself for putting the mental image of a naked Draco in her mind. It was repulsive, it was horrible, it was..
So tempting.
Quickly, as if to stem the tide of images that that one thought began, Ginny hurriedly dealt the cards. Draco noticed her discomfort, but blissfully chose not to comment on it.
Draco picked up and quickly perused his hand. Somehow, he knew it was now or never. The time was right to go for broke, to risk it and get those clothes.
He had to pause for a moment, though. 'I mean, if I like her so much, why am I so desperate to do something that I know is going to embarrass her? Shouldn't I just let her go?' Draco's conscience, it seemed, had caught up with him and was giving him the very uncommon feeling of guilt.
He shook it off. 'I know I don't have a chance with her. This is as close as I'm ever going to get. I might as well enjoy it while I can."
Unobtrusively, he began to take the last step that would assure his victory for the evening.
"Two, please."
Ginny handed him his cards, then helped herself to three. She stared at them. Blinking, she wondered if she was simply imagining it, but they remained unchanged. It seemed fortune was with her this evening, and had granted her a straight flush.
"I know we didn't ante in the beginning, so how about we start now. I'll bet you everything you have against everything I have."
"Fine."
"Winner takes all."
"Absolutely."
"One of us is about to leave the table naked."
"I couldn't have put it better myself," she said with a smile.
"Well then, time to show 'em."
They both lay their cards down simultaneously.
"Yes!" He thought.
"No!" She screamed.
There before her, lay her straight flush..and his royal one.
Horrified, she looked back and forth between his smug expression and her cards, the hand that had betrayed her.
"Well Vir-gin-ia. Time to pay up."
Ginny looked up at her opponent, chin trembling and tears threatening to fall. She had never really even been kissed, and now she was going to have to take off her clothes for her family's worst enemy.
And take them off she would because, despite everything, she was a Gryffindor, brave to the point of stupidity, and prizing her honor above most else in this world. No matter how much she didn't want to, no matter how painful it was, she wouldn't, couldn't back out of a deal, even if it was one made with the devil himself.
Standing up slowly, Ginny lifted her chin to steady it, and blinked back her tears. She may have to lose the clothes, but she would remain in control, even if it killed her.
Ginny took a deep breath, and reached around behind her for the clasp on her skirt and..
"Wait."
'What did he say?' she thought.
'What did I say?' he asked himself, but deep down, he knew. He couldn't make her go through with it. He had intended to use her honor against her, to manipulate her for a quick peek at the object of his obsession, but he just couldn't go through with it. Perhaps he was losing his edge, or perhaps he simply did have a heart, but he wouldn't make her do it. Draco would readily admit that he was a bastard, but seeing the object of his affections in emotional pain brought forth a protective instinct he didn't know he possessed. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her, and as he watched her so fiercely try to be brave, he knew that this was destroying his Ginny.
"You don't have to do this."
"A bet's a bet and I lost fair and squa."
"I really did think you would catch on quicker."
"Excuse me."
It felt awful, but it had to be done. The only way to help her to get over the embarrassment and forget his lapse into a decent guy was to make her mad.at him!
"I mean, I know Gryffs aren't known for their quick wit, but, Vir-gin-ia, it was so obvious that I was cheating."
"What!"
"It was fun and all, cheating you out of your clothing, seeing how far you were willing to go for a stupid toad, but I never had any real desire to see you naked. If I'd have known you'd be so dense about it, I would have never started this with you in the first place."
Ginny began to see red.
"Who know you were so gullible! Honestly, as if I would ever want to see your scrawny little.umph!"
Draco never did get to finish that thought, for at that moment Ginny finally managed to hit him with something..herself.
Scrambling over the table, Ginny leapt on Draco in her attempt to strangle him, knocking his chair, with him in it, over in the process.
Completely unaware of the compromising nature of her position, Ginny started smacking the boy that was now underneath her.
"You stupid, selfish, arrogant bastard! I swear I'm going to."
Draco desperately grabbed for Ginny's wrists. Although he would never admit it, the phrase 'hits like a girl' was very deceiving. It hurt!
It took three attempts, but on the third try, he managed to catch them. What he didn't count on was that Ginny's arm still had enough momentum from the swing to throw her off balance.
Ginny wasn't sure what had happened, but one minute she was beating up Draco, and the next she was flush against his chest .on top of him .both of them only partially clothed.
Ginny didn't know if this was a dream come true or her worst nightmare.
Draco was sure he had to be dreaming. The girl of his fantasies was merely inches away from his face, chest to chest with him. Granted, she wasn't there by her own design, but still, a guy had to take what he could get.
Before he could think the better of it, Draco quickly leaned up to catch her lips. One hand left her wrists and made it's way to the flaming red hair that had already begun to escape from its braid, the hair that he had wanted to touch for so long.
Ginny struggled, but only for a moment. It was only a token attempt anyway. She had never wanted anything more than she wanted that kiss at that moment. Relaxing, she spread her hands out over his chest for balance, and let herself get lost in that kiss.
And what a kiss it was. Draco kissed her slowly, thoroughly, like a drowning man desperate for air. He couldn't seem to get enough of her; she tasted like fresh rain, butterbeer, and all of his favorite things.
She couldn't get enough of him. Later, when she was able to think, she would come to believe that he had kissing down to an art, beyond the mundane and into the extraordinary. But for now, she was content to lose herself in the sensations that started wherever their skin made contact, and spread throughout her body as a warm glow.
And then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Pulling apart at the same time, breathing heavily, they simply looked at each other for a moment. Then, the spell broken, Ginny scrambled off him, turned toward the table, and in one movement, grabbed her clothes on her mad dash to the door. Not looking back, she ducked into a dark alcove and waited for her traitorous heart to quiet as she allowed the stones to cool her heated skin.
Back in the room, Draco slowly sat up in a daze. Mechanically, he reached for his things and put them on, one by one. Why he thought he could be satisfied with a simple encounter, he couldn't fathom. He was beyond obsessed. She was in his blood, his soul..his heart.
Bloody hell.
He was in love with her.
Sinking down in her chair, he stared at the remnants of the game; the only telltale reminders that what had taken place was not just a figment of his imagination. The cards, the butterbeer, the two glasses.. they were all still here. Only, she wasn't. She had been so desperate to escape him, she had left without demanding the toad - her entire purpose for coming. not that it mattered. The animal had been returned hours ago, anonymously by owl.
Draco put his head in his hands.
What was he going to do now?
What was she going to do now? Fully clothed, but no calmer, Ginny started back to her dorm room. It was all so confusing. Was Draco just toying with her? Did he really like her? And then there was that kiss, oh, that kiss.what did that mean and, how did she feel about it? After all, it was Draco.
Ginny's heart gave a small lurch. He was Draco, not Malfoy, not ferret boy, but Draco now. And far from regretting that kiss, she found herself relieving it, wondering if it would ever happen again. Longing for the boy that made her feel both miserable and alive at the same time.
Ginny suddenly stopped still in the middle of the hallway, shock registering on her face.
'Bloody hell,' she thought. 'I'm in love with him!'
THE END..OR IS IT JUST THE BEGINNING?