Chapter 4 - [Night Encounter and Instincts]

            The months passed and it was soon Christmas holiday for the students at Hogwarts. Ginny and Draco got awfully close during there nightly routines. Draco was surprised at how much he let his guard down when he was with her. He would realize that she was breaking down the walls that surrounded him and then he would right away build them up again. It was hard to let people in and Draco didn't want to do it.

            Rumors had started at Hogwarts saying that the Dark Lord and his death eaters where close to Hogwarts. There were rumors that they were planning to attack very soon. Draco dismissed the rumors, trying to make himself believe nothing was going to happen. He didn't want the death eaters to attack, because that would mean his father was coming to get him. He thought about becoming a death eater, then thought about how horrible his father was. He would rather be hunted down and killed then become like his father. It didn't matter how much he wanted to see his father happy because the truth was, he wanted his father to burn in hell.

            Not wanting students to worry, Dumbledore announced there was going to be a winter dance right before the holidays began. Students began getting there robes ready and thinking about who to ask to the dance. Ron already had Hermione in mind and Harry didn't really think about asking anyone out. The excitement lifted the worry out of the air and the teachers where glad.

            Ginny walked down to the lake humming a merry tune to herself. She was in a particularly good mood. She didn't really know why, but it was just one of those days where nothing bad happened. She looked around and didn't see Draco anywhere. She was earlier then she usually was. So, she took a comfortable spot underneath a tree and continued with her song.

            "I see you're in a happy mood," Ginny jumped at the voice behind her, "any particular reason why, or is just because you get to see me again?"

            Ginny turned around and looked at Draco with a smirk across his face. She laughed, "No, no particular reason. I'm just in a good mood today." Draco took a seat next to her. There was a silence between them. They sat quietly and listened to the nightly noises and looked out to the moonlit lake. It seemed like the most solitary environment.

"So, who are you going to the winter dance with?" Ginny questioned, closing her eyes and leaning her back onto the tree.

"Why? I thought you'd want to go with Potter." He mumbled.

Ginny opened her eyes, "Huh?"

"I'm not going." He repeated

"Oh," she looked down, "Why not?"

"I don't know, I just don't feel like it"

"Oh." She said again. Yes, she was disappointed. Maybe the only reason she wanted to go to the dance was to see Draco, even though they had almost seen each other every night for the past four months. But, the nightly routines were forced upon them. She wanted to do something with Draco on her own freewill. Sure, she didn't mind them, but she could be in the exact same place with a different partner. She wanted something different.

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It was already the day of the winter dance. Students were excited, not only for the dance, but for Christmas holiday. They finally got a break from classes. People and Teachers were preparing for the dance and making sure everything was ready. Students got dressed and made sure they looked perfect, with the help of some simple spells. Ginny stood in front of her mirror, looking at her outfit. It was a black dress with black heels. Of course, she could never afford such a thing, but that was why Hermione was there.

Ginny could always depend on her friend to give her help. Whether if it was barrowing something or needing advice. She was always there and Ginny was glad. So, with Ron by Hermione's side and Harry by Ginny's they went to the Great Hall. Harry didn't really ask Ginny to go with him, but they just kind of got stuck together. They were only together as friends, that was all Ginny thought. It didn't matter about what happened in the past, they were just friends.

When they entered the hall, they were amazed. The teachers put it into a beautiful, white, snow theme. It was great and all the students where having fun. While Ginny's peers where dancing she decided to have a seat. It was getting awfully hot in the Great Hall, so Ginny decided to leave and get some air. She walked out to her usual spot of patrolling. They had all gotten the day off, but she noticed someone was still there. It was Draco.

"Hey!" she called out. He turned around and then went back to looking into the forest. Ginny walked down to him, "What are you doing here?"

"I should ask you the same thing. Thought you were suppose to be at the dance." He said.

"Well, it was getting kind of stuffy in there. I decided to get some air. What are you doing here?"

"I was just, thinking…" his voice trailed off.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"Nothing really…"

She gave out a chuckle, "That's a lie and you know it. Draco, why won't you just let me in?"

"You don't understand Ginny! You don't realize that's all I've been doing. I haven't ever let someone get this close to me in my entire life! You're different. There's something that draws me to you and I seem to not be able to get you out of my damn head." He signed and looked at the girl next to him.

Ginny just stared. She didn't know what to say. After a while she finally replied, "You said Ginny."

"What?"

"You called me by my name. You called me Ginny." She said again.

"You called me Draco." He pointed out. She was silent again. Draco noticed she was shivering. She was wearing black dress robes made with the thinnest material in the world and it was the middle of December. He wondered, was she crazy? Taking off his jacket, he gave it to her. "Let's go for a walk."

Ginny accepted his coat and nodded her head.

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They walked along the border of the forbidden forest. The werewolves were howling there usual song and the leaves rustled from the wind. Ginny pulled Draco's jacket closer to her, trying to get warm. Draco looked up towards the sky, sighing every now and then. They had been walking for a few minutes now, when Draco noticed something strange.

"Stop." He said, looking into the forest.

Ginny immediately halted, "What is it?"

Draco shushed her and looked into the forest. Yes, there was something there alright, but what? It looked like they were moving to fast. There were more then a dozen of them running. Then, one stopped. Draco looked straight at it. It was something or someone in a black cloak. It took out a wand and pointed towards them.

One thought came into Draco's mind, "Shit" Draco had no idea what he was doing, it just came as an instinct. He grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her down towards the ground. She heard her yell and the moment went by fast. Finally all was silent. He took a look at the girl in his arms. She was holding on tightly to him and her eyes were full of tears. He looked at her leg, it was bleeding.

Ginny closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain. Her leg was searing with pain. She held on closely to Draco, wanting to feel safe in his arms. He didn't let go. For a minute, he just stood there, staring at her. Then, hearing rustling in the forest he immediately ran for the castle.

He ran as fast as he ever did in his whole entire life. Nothing really mattered this much. He needed to get Dumbledore and quick. Ginny was injured and he knew what would be coming next. The worst thing he'd ever have to face, his father. He finally got back to the castle. He ran in, still holding Ginny and followed his way towards the great hall. Running in, everyone stared at him. He didn't care, it didn't matter.

He ran to Dumbledore, but before he reached him he was interrupted by a certain red haired Weasley.

"What did you do to my sister Malfoy!?" Ron was red in the face and Harry and Hermione followed.

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY WEASLEY!" he yelled.

"No!" Ron yelled back, "What in the bloody hell did you do to her!?"

"Malfoy! You are a son of a bitch!" yelled Harry.

"Ginny!" was all Hermione could say.

Malfoy was getting impatient. Slowly he repeated, "Get the fuck out of my way Weasley! If you don't, I swear I'll…" Draco was cut off by the headmaster.

"What happened here Mr. Malfoy?" he asked.

Draco looked up to him, "He's here. There's more then a dozen of them with him. In the forbidden forest…"

Dumbledore understood, although many others didn't. Trying to make the situation as calm as possible he said to the students, "Do not panic! Prefects please escort you're house back to the dormitories." He turned back to Draco, "Get Miss Weasley to the Hospital Wing."

"Hey! That's MY sister!" Ron exclaimed.

"Ron, Harry, Hermione, please listen. I know you'd most likely want to save the day and make sure everything is alright, but this is not the time for it. I know you are gravely concerned about Ginny, but you just have to trust me on this one. Please head back to your dormitories." He said kindly. After much disagreement they left.

Draco needed to know one thing before he left, "What are you going to do?"

Dumbledore shook his head, "We'll try to do all we can. You need to get Ginny patched up. Please we cannot lose any time." Draco nodded and left.

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The next day rumors were flying around Hogwarts. No one knew the true story of course. Ginny lay in the hospital wing, resting up. Draco stayed by her side for a few hours on the first night she was in the hospital. He knew it wouldn't look good if he was there every minute of the day. People would wonder, but it wasn't like they weren't wondering at the moment. So, he only stayed with her in the dead of night.

            Now, he watched her rest while he sat on a chair by the side of the bed. The moonlight danced across the room and in the darkness he watched. He carefully examined every inch of her face and body. She was beautiful and it took him nearly six years to figure it out. He hated it though, the way she made him feel. He felt weak around her. She could get to places not even his family or fellow slytherins could, and this was a problem. But, out of everything the worst problem was that she was a Weasley and he was a Malfoy. Things like that were supposedly impossible, and yet he had fallen. Now, there was only one thing to prevent it, himself. He could leave his feelings in the trash with the rest of the crap from his life or he could pursue it. Which was worth it?

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            On the day she was dismissed from the hospital wing she had been questioned a lot. While walking to her classes, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, people had to bug her about what happened. Of course, the dream team had the most questions.

            "Gin!" Ginny turned around to see her red-headed brother, and his two best friends running up to her.

            "Hey" she greeted them

            "So how are you?" asked Hermione

            "I'm better." She replied

            "That's great."

            "What happened Gin?" asked Harry

            "Yeah and why were you with that git?" Ron added on. Hermione shot them both a dirty look.

            "Well, I guess you could say I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I went out for some fresh air and Malfoy was out by the lake. Nothing really happened. By the time I got there we were attacked." Ginny told them, trying to be as blunt as possible. After all, she didn't expect Draco to be there and nothing really did happen.

            "That bastard probably knew you were going to be attacked!" Spat Ron.

            "That's not fair! He could have been killed as well!" Ginny said defensively.

            "Well, isn't it strange how he came out with no scratched at all?" said Harry.

            "Your wrong guys, if it wasn't for Malfoy I'd probably be dead!" Ginny stormed away to her next class.

            "Um…guys, I think you upset her." Hermione shook her head.

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            Draco sat underneath a tree waiting for his partner. It would be the first patrol with Ginny after what happened. He was worried, after that he wasn't sure if his father and the death eaters would come back. Dumbledore told him they had searched the whole forest, and found nothing.

            His chain of thought was broken by a small whisper. "Hey there"

            He looked up to see that Ginny had finally arrived. "Hey."

            "Sorry I'm late, how long have you been waiting?" she asked.

            "It's alright, it hasn't been long." He told her. He got up and began to walk. Ginny followed him.

            "Oh. Has anyone asked about anything?" she asked.

            "Well, if you mean about what happened in the forest then no. Dumbledore asks occasional questions, but he already knew what was going on. But, if you mean about us, then yes. Some people have, I just give them a dirty look and they seem to not want to know anymore." Ginny nodded her head at the answer. There was one of the famous 'Ginny and Draco silence' between them, but that wasn't anything new. It wasn't that they didn't have anything to talk about. It was just that they enjoyed each others presence in the silence.

            Ginny looked up to the teenager with grey eyes, "You saved me?" Her voice was quiet and hardly heard.

            "Yeah"

            "Why?"

            Draco looked deeply into her eyes, "Well, I don't really know. It was just an instinct. You know what I'm talking about…"

            "Maybe, maybe it was an instinct. But, there's something more to it." She said.

            "What are you talking about?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

            "Well, let's say that you weren't by the lake that night. What if you weren't there to go by your 'instinct'? What if I got hit and no one was around and what if I died? Would you still care?" Ginny paused and Draco didn't say anything, "And that's the difference, Draco. The difference is that you care about me." She paused, "And I care about you…"

            Draco and Ginny were inches apart by now. Draco had the strong urge to lean in, but he couldn't give in. So, letting out a sigh, he kept walking.

            Ginny frowned and called after him, "Draco!"

            "We shouldn't be fooling around, specially after what happened. We must stay vigilant." He kept up a fast pace.

            "Draco! Why are you running from this? You know that I care about you and you know that you understand me more then anyone! Why are you doing this?" she shouted.

            "Because your going to get hurt again!" he yelled back.

            "That's not the reason and you know it! You know something that I don't." Ginny had finally caught up with Draco when he stopped again. "You know about why we were attacked that day, don't you? It was just like what they said. You are trying to hurt me." Ginny looked at him in disbelief.

            "Damn it, no! That's not the case! I would never do that to you!"

            "Then tell me why the hell your running!? Whether it's from me or from whoever attacked us!"

            "Fine! Let's see, my father wants me to become a death eater! He said he'd send people to get me! He said he'd get me at night and that got me worried because you'd always be with me! So that night I was glad that you weren't there! I didn't want you hurt. But once I saw you I forgot all about it. I'm just so fucking stupid…" his voice had died down.

            Ginny spoke up, with tears in her eyes. "So this is all it is? You just want to please your father? You didn't want to see me hurt, but you'd go and get yourself hurt? You think by becoming a death eater, all your problems would disappear? Well guess what Draco, they won't."

            Draco got closer to the tearful girl, "No, your wrong. At first all I wanted was to please my father. You change that Ginny, you changed the way I thought and what I thought about. I'd never want to do what my father tells me to ever again."

            Ginny wiped her tears away, "Then why are you still doing it? You say that you don't want to follow your father, but that's all you've been doing. Isn't your father the man who built up the barrier for Malfoys and Weasleys? The man who said Malfoys and Weasleys could never get along or be together? He is that man and you're still following by his beliefs."

            Draco thought about this. She was absolutely right. Why was he holding back? He had never cared about anyone except for Ginny for a very long time. So, looking back at the girl with her tear stained eyes he whispered something to her, "Your right."

            Leaning in he placed his lips on hers. At that moment, nothing really mattered except for the girl in his arms. The girl who actually made him give a damn about his life. It was one of those moments that are rarely experienced more then once in someone's lifetime. And to Draco, it was just an instinct…

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A/N: Unfortunately, I'm back! Hehe. Well, I got back this morning and here's the next chapter. I hope you like. Review please and I'll love you forever!!!

Thanks to peaceoutgirlmehi for reviewing, I'm glad you liked it and I had a kick ass time in Florida.