A/N: OK, Draco plays quidditch for England, it's the World Cup, and anything in italics (if it worked) is either someone thinking, or a memory. Whichever it is should be obvious. OK? OK. A/N
" Go, Draco!" yelled Ginny from the stands.
Draco heard his name and spun around on his broom. He smiled when he saw whom the angelic voice belonged to. It wasn't hard to spot the waist-length mane of fire-red hair sitting, waving at him from the Top Box. She gave a loud whistle and he laughed, waving back at her before returning to the game.
Their relationship struck him as somewhat humorous. They had hated each other all through their years at Hogwarts. Then, three years ago, two years after he had graduated, he saw her. He was in Hogsmeade for the day with some old school friends and she was there alone, just stepping out of a small gift shop when he spotted her. He had barely recognized her at all, but for some reason he had known her instantly. He had never paid her any attention in school. None at all. And seeing her then, and really looking at her, had thrown him into a state of shock. Little Ginny Weasley wasn't so little anymore. Little Ginny Weasley had grown up. Her fire-red hair had reached her waist, she was certainly taller, she wore a little more make-up, the deep black mascara on her long eyelashes drawing immediate attention to her bright green eyes, and her body itself had matured her into a beautiful young woman.
Draco smiled remembering that day. They had ended up talking and agreeing to possibly get together some time. They had gotten together and found they really liked one another. From there, the deep likeness had slowly turned to love. A deep, passionate love. The kind of love that storybooks say conquers all. They were the most unlikely match, but nothing could have made either of them change their mind.
The sun was shining brightly as Draco, Marcus Flint, Crabbe and Goyle walked along the High Street in Hogsmeade. Draco wasn't paying any attention to exactly where they were walking until Marcus suddenly stuck out his arm to stop him and Crabbe and Goyle walked into them, obviously not paying attention either. Before Draco could say a single rude or scathing word, Marcus spoke. " Who's that?" He asked. Draco followed his gaze and felt his breath catch in his throat. A young woman had just walked out of a small antique gift shop. Her silky fire-red hair hung to the waist of her little white sundress. Draco and Flint watched her slim legs as she descended the small steps to the sidewalk.
" Ginny Weasley," breathed Draco.
" What?!" asked Flint in disbelief. " No! Not little Ginny Weasley!"
Draco slowly nodded. He had no idea how he knew, he just sort of… did. He was suddenly struck with an absurd idea, and next thing he knew, he had pushed Flint's arm out of the way and started walking towards her. When he was within a few feet of her he said timidly, " Ginny?" To his great relief, and small surprise that it really was her, she turned to look at him.
" Draco?" she asked, sounding rather confused. " Draco Malfoy?"
He smiled and nodded. She remembered him.
" What do you want?" she asked almost defiantly.
Draco was slightly taken aback. " I just wanted to say hello, and see how you were doing."
She eyed him suspiciously. He was suddenly hit with a jolt of realization.
" Don't worry, I'm not here to taunt you or anything. Those were school days. We're both mature young adults who can have a civilized conversation on the street, aren't we?"
He let out the breath he didn't even know he had been holding as she gave him a small smile. " You're right. We are."
He smiled back. He opened his mouth to speak again and hesitated. She must have noticed because she was looking at him with her perfect eyebrows raised as though waiting. " Wouldyouliketogetacoffee?" The words came out in a rush.
" Sorry?"
Draco took a deep breath. " Would you like to get a coffee?"
She smiled at him, a genuine smile, and nodded. " I'd love to."
Draco smiled and shook his head and focused on the game. As much as he loved Ginny, the Quidditch World Cup was on the line. He was Seeker for England and they were against Ireland. His former schoolmate Lee Jordan was commentating the match. He had gotten himself a job easily at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, but worked part-time in the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
Draco heard Lee's loud, enthusiastic voice as England scored. Draco did a happy loop in the air, much to the cheering of the joyful crowd. It was now 90-70 England.
" He always has to show off for everyone," grumbled Ron.
" Look," said Ginny, smiling happily, " you didn't have to come, Ron. But you can sit there criticizing him all you like. Just remember you wouldn't even be here if it weren't for him." She added quietly.
" I could easily have gotten my own tickets!" he retorted angrily.
" For the Top Box?" asked Ginny, raising her eyebrows.
Ron opened his mouth and quickly shut it again. There was no point arguing it. As it had always been, the Weasleys were not the wealthiest of wizards. Draco had gotten tickets for Ginny and Ron so that each could bring a friend. Ginny had brought Hermione Granger, and Ron had, of course, brought Harry Potter. They all jumped to their feet and cheered as England scored again.
Draco heard the eruption of cheers from the Top Box and joined in. When the Quaffle was back in play, he resumed his search for the Snitch.
" Parker in possession!" came Lee's projected voice. " He dodges Michigan- he just missed that bludger- he dodges Morten, and his path looks clear! He's heading for the Keeper! And- Ooh! I bet that hurt!"
Colin Trinston had collided hard with Parker, nearly knocking him off his broom. The crowd booed and shouted many other rude things at the Irish team, who didn't seem too pleased with Trinston themselves. The referee called a foul.
" Damn right it's a foul!" shouted Draco, angrily.
A penalty was given and Taylor flew over to take the shot. Draco looked over at Parker. He was swaying slightly on his broom, apparently dizzy from the collision.
" Draco, watch out!" Shouted Ginny. Draco heard, as well as felt, to great rushes of wind on either side of him. Two bludgers sped past him. After a few seconds he realized where they were headed: Parker. Both were speeding directly at him, and he had not noticed due to his dizziness. In fact, it appeared as though no one but Draco had noticed where they were going.
" Parker!" He yelled, but Parker couldn't hear him over the roar of the crowd as Taylor scored. Draco forgot all about the Snitch and shot towards parker at full speed. Parker looked up. Draco got to him before the bludgers and pushed him as hard as he could out of the way, but didn't get out of the way quick enough himself. Both bludgers hit him square in the chest with a very distinct crack and he was launched backwards off his broom.
" Draco!" shrieked Ginny, leaping out of her seat and leaning over the edge of the Top Box. Draco fell for what had to have been at least seventy feet and hit the ground with a sickening thud. Hermione, Ron and Harry jumped out of their seats and next second Ginny was gone. She had Apparated herself onto the quidditch pitch. She could hear Ron yelling her name, but she didn't care. Tears stung her eyes as she ran as fast as her legs would carry her across the pitch to Draco. The rest of the English team was already forming a circle around him and Ginny could see a group of medi-wizards hurrying over from the other end of the pitch. She reached the circle and they let her through almost immediately as she had attended quite a few practices and they recognized her. She hurried to Draco, knelt down and placed his head on her lap. " Oh my God… Draco…" She whispered.
" It hurts," he said, his voice cracking. His face was extremely pale, paler than usual, except for his cheeks, which were crimson.
Oh God… Please let him be okay… Ginny prayed silently. She suddenly remembered when they first bought their apartment one year ago. They had both been so happy.
There was a knock on the door downstairs.
" So sorry. I'll be just a minute." Said the sales-wizard apologetically.
" It's quite alright." Said Ginny. " We'll just look around a bit." He nodded with a smile and hurried off to get the door, leaving the two of them alone. Ginny looked around the rather large bedroom.
" It's nice, isn't it?" asked Draco, as he wrapped his arm around her slender waist.
" Oh, Draco, It's more than nice. It's incredible. I can't wait!" She smiled happily.
" Want to see the closet?" he asked pointing to a closed door.
" Sure." They walked over and Draco pulled the door open. Ginny stepped inside and looked around in awe. Being a wizard apartment, the closet was enormous. " It's huge…"
" Surprise," Draco smiled as he came in after her. He turned her to face him, leaned down and lightly pressed his lips to hers. They broke apart and Ginny looked up into his beautiful gray eyes.
" Draco, this is wonderful." She whispered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into another kiss. After a few moments they broke apart and just stood their staring at each other, smiling.
" You know what this closet needs?" asked Draco, looking around them.
" What?" She asked curiously as he leant down to kiss her again.
" A mattress."
Even though he was trying to kiss her again, Ginny couldn't stop laughing.
" That's incredible." The voice of the medi-wizard kneeling beside Draco interrupted Ginny's thoughts.
" What?" Ginny and Draco asked in unison. The medi-wizard looked at Draco in what appeared to be disbelief.
" The fall alone could have killed you, but adding those two bludgers it should have killed you."
The sweat was pouring off Draco. He closed his eyes and let out a slow, raspy breath.
" You're going to be okay. I promise." Whispered Ginny as tears streamed down her face. Draco closed his eyes and groaned.
" It hurts so much."
" I know, Draco. I know, just please hold on. You'll be okay, I promise." She cried quietly.
Draco opened his eyes and looked up at her. Ginny felt her heart break. The last thing she ever expected Draco Malfoy to do was cry. His soft gray eyes were staring deeply and longingly into her emerald eyes. " Take my pain away," he whispered. " Please…"
Ginny knew what he meant and leant her face down closer to his, her long locks creating a fiery curtain around their heads as they both closed their eyes and she lightly pressed her lips against his. He returned the sad kiss. Ginny realized with a pang how cold his lips were. They slowly broke the kiss and she opened her eyes. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. " I love you," he whispered as a silent tear rolled down his smooth face. That was too much for Ginny. She broke down crying in shaky sobs. " Ginny," he whispered. She looked into his watery eyes. " Please tell me you love me…" Ginny couldn't speak. The pain in her throat and heart combined was stopping her from even wincing now. She looked away from his eyes at his chest where he had been hit. She gasped. His front was covered in blood. She had honestly expected broken bones and some internal injury, but not blood. At least certainly not this much of it. She looked back into his eyes. " Please…" he whispered again. " I need your strength." Ginny sucked in a quick breath and poured out her heart and soul to him.
" Yes, I love you! I love you so, so much! I love you more than anything or anyone else in the world, Draco. You are my world. You're my everything. I'll never let go of you." As she said all this, she started crying again, hard, and took his icy cold hand in hers. She squeezed it tightly and kissed his forehead. " I'll never let go of you." She repeated in a whisper.
As Ginny put all her feelings out in the open, Draco was momentarily stunned. The pain coursing through his body was immense. He was reminded of the number of Cruciatus Curses his father had used on him as 'punishment' and 'discipline'. He looked into her deep green eyes and was rendered speechless. He knew she had loved him, but not like that. He felt warm tears pouring over the outer corners of his eyes, slowly running down his face where the air hitting them made them cold. Before he had a chance to say anything, Hermione was leaning down behind Ginny, trying to pull her up.
Ginny looked over her shoulder at Hermione. " They're going to send him to St. Mungo's now." She said gently. Ginny nodded and turned back to Draco. She leant down and kissed his lips one more time.
" I love you." She whispered as she began to move his head.
This was his last chance. She had poured her soul to him and he hadn't said anything back, but she hadn't acknowledged it. It didn't matter to her whether he said anything or not. She truly, deeply loved him. He had nearly died, and still might, and he couldn't bear to think of life without her. She had never loved anyone the way she loved him, as she had told him once. And he had never loved anyone like he loved her, as he had told her as well. She meant everything to him. She was his world. And he couldn't let her go. He wouldn't. Ever.
Draco flung his hand up to grasp her arm- ignoring the excruciating pain it caused- as she lifted his head off her lap and she stopped abruptly. This was his last chance. He looked deeply into her eyes, deeper than he ever had before, and said, " Marry me, Ginny."
Ginny's eyes opened wide and she was hurtled into a state of shock. She couldn't speak. She saw the look of anxiousness verging on panic spreading across his pale face and kissed him harder than she had meant to. She broke the kiss and smiled. A real, genuine smile, and whispered, " I'd love to."
~The End~
