Chapter 20

While Ginny was busy looking for food to feed them with, Draco was trying his best to start a fire in the small, worn stone place in the corner. The night would be chilly, of that much he was certain. They must have come further into the mountains without realizing it.

That could be a very dangerous thing, if they weren't prepared for it. But the hut, though old, seemed to be well supplied and decently clean inside. Maybe it was some kind of outpost. Which could mean, Draco thought hopefully, that there was a village near by.

The only thing that was bothering him as he persuaded the fire into life, was the disturbing detail of the furniture. Or lack thereof. With only one bed, someone would either be sleeping on the floor tonight, or…they would be sharing a bed.

Silently, he grinned to himself. The second option was definitely the best in his eyes, but he knew Ginny wouldn't see it that way. He would stake his life that if he wanted to, he could get her into an awful temper over the matter. Maybe he would, just for the fun of it.

Draco glanced over to the kitchen then, where Ginny had just pulled something out of a cabinet. A slight smile was on her face as she went about her task.

Then again, maybe not. His bad mood was quickly fading now that they had shelter, food, and heat. He'd hate to see that smile of her's go. And he had to remember, she had the wand here, not him. She could curse him into the next century if she so chose.

The thought caused his smile to widen, just as Ginny looked up.

"What," she asked suspiciously, "are you smiling about?"

Draco shook his head and stood up, coming towards her. "Nothing."

"Right." Ginny searched through some drawers, looking for a can opener. "Well, if it wasn't nothing, it will be soon. Because I get the bed." She grinned smugly.

"Okay," Draco consented easily.

Ginny started. "You're not even going to argue?"

"Nope."

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Why not?"

Draco shrugged, eyes dancing. "You are the girl. I figure you'd need it more or something." Ooh, that was going to get her.

"Draco Malfoy. That has to be one of the most sexist things I've ever heard you say! I can tough it out just as much as you can. I've done it so far haven't I?" she demanded.

Again, Draco shrugged.

Ginny set her jaw. "I'll prove it to you," she told him determinedly. "I'll take the floor tonight."

*********************

Just a few hours later, Ginny lay on the hard floor, the single extra blanket they had been able to find clutched around her shivering form, and the spare pillow from the bed under her head. God, she was cold, even with her cloak wrapped around her and the fire blazing in the hearth. There was obviously a draft in the room. But she wouldn't give in. She wouldn't climb into that bed beside Draco Malfoy for a thousand Galleons. She'd decided to sleep on the floor, and that's what she was going to do.

Her teeth chattered uncontrollably, and once again, Ginny had to fight off temptation. A warm, soft bed was right there, waiting for her…

Draco had already asked her several times over the past hour if she was sure she didn't want to share the bed, and each time she'd mustered her courage enough to tell him no. But how much longer would she be able to last. There was no way she could fall asleep.

Above her, the bed shifted, creaked under Draco's weight. His head appeared over the side of the bed for the third time that night, a lock of gold blazing in the soft moonlight that streamed through a window.

"Ginny…" he started, his voice gentle, almost apologetic. "You're freezing."

"I'm fine, she protested, turning away so that he didn't see her shiver. But Draco saw anyway.

With a sigh of frustration, he climbed out of bed and moved towards her. Before Ginny knew what was happening, he'd picked her up in his arms.

Clutching him reflexively, she tried to protest. "Put me down."

Draco did as she ordered. But instead of hard floor, Ginny felt the soft mattress cushioning her.

"Draco-" she began.

"Ginny, just quit arguing and shut up. I'm not going to have you freezing to death on me." He crawled into bed beside her, but was careful to stay on the opposite side.

"Like you'd care," she sulked.

Draco stiffened, and Ginny regretted the hastily spoken words. Especially when his next ones filled her with guilt.

"I would," Draco told her softly, turning on his side facing away from her. "You know I would."

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Once again, morning found them, and Ginny awoke to find herself in a very unusual position. Sometime during the night, it seemed, she had eased her way over until she was snuggled right next to Draco.

She smiled, the feeling of being safe and protected momentarily blinding her to her predicament. Then she opened her eyes.

Her arm was thrown over Draco's chest, and her head nestled comfortably in the crook of his arm. His breath tickled her cheek.

How had this happened?!!! How had she ended up laying like…like this next to him?

She turned her head slightly, hoping against hope that his deep breathing was a sign that he wasn't awake yet, and that she could somehow maneuver her way out of this potentially embarrassing situation without him waking up.

But much to her chagrin, she found his eyes open, looking at her. A lazy, cat-like smile plastered across his face.

"Have a good sleep?" he teased.

Ginny groaned, flushing under his gaze. "I was until now." She struggled to sit up, but Draco's other arm caught her, forcing her to stay.

"Is it really so bad to wake up in my arms?" he asked her, the merry, humorous glint in his eyes faded into an expression of hurt.

"Yes!" Ginny exclaimed, the instinct to get away growing stronger by the minute. But…"and-and no." she added, confusion muddling her brain.

If she was honest with herself, she'd know that it hadn't been bad at all. In fact, it was a wonderful feeling, to know you were safe, and that the person who held you wouldn't let anything happen to you, that he really loved you…

But she didn't know that, did she? All the things he said, everything he did…the way he acted. They all led up to those words, but he had never said them, had he? She tried to tell herself that he just hadn't had the chance, that the timing had never been right, but what about now? Why didn't he just tell her now? She had just admitted that it wasn't a completely bad emotion, waking up with him. Now was the perfect time!

She glanced up at him hopefully, but the expression in his eyes betrayed nothing. They gave no clue to what he was thinking, what he was feeling. His face had become a mask; contemplating. Abruptly, he let her go, and she fell back a little as the strength that had been supporting her vanished.

Ginny watched as he climbed from the bed, throwing his cloak on over top the jeans and sweater he'd been wearing underneath. Silently, he tossed Ginny hers, picking it up from the floor where he'd let it fall the previous night, when he'd laid her on the bed.

Ginny followed the unspoken order, pulling the cloak on over her own clothes. Obviously, Draco intended to leave soon. Without even saying a word to her about what had just passed. That was so like him!

She finished tugging her robe on, and watched for a moment as Draco began putting out the fire. "How did he get it started last night anyway?" she wondered. He must have done it by hand, with matches or something; he certainly hadn't asked to use her wand.

Realizing she was just standing there, when she could be doing something helpful, she made her way to the kitchen. Maybe she could find enough stuff to take with them, so at least they'd have food for a meal or two.

She was packing it all into a leather carrying bag she'd found, when she felt a presence behind her.

Draco was there. He didn't grab her arm, or pull her close to him, he didn't even touch her, but very carefully, he leaned forward until he could whisper right in her ear, finally replying to her last words of the earlier conversation. "Good."

A/N: Yes, the end of another chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. I think that this chapter was sort of a coming together for Draco and Ginny. I think that it's a real step up in their relationship. They're actually getting somewhere now, you know? It's progressing. And maybe there will be another kiss soon. But first, we have to discover exactly who was watching them from the trees, and find…a village? The next chapter (hopefully) will be where events really start unfolding.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I appreciate all of you, as I'm sure you know by now, on account of me stressing this so much, lol.

Stubbornarse: Thanks for reviewing!

Moonlight and Midnight: Lol. And your welcome.

FallenAngel664: *grins conspiratorially* Glad you agree.

Allie*: My my, you have been writing reviews for a long time, haven't you? So when am I going to get to write you another one, hmm? Lol. And yes, I intended that part to be funny, so I'm glad you thought it was!

TRuTh: Thanks for all the complements! Yes, you heard right, I'm home schooled, and am currently in 11th grade. I hope to finish 11th and 12th this year though, which means working twice as hard, but hopefully I can do it.

Dragonsprincess: Did it turn out exactly as you expected? In a way, I guess it did. They ended up in the same bed. But that Draco had to make her…was Ginny being idiotic or what?

Draco~Gin*gurl: I'm not telling you who that was yet…maybe next chapter. *grins evilly*

Marybecca: Thanks.

Mi: Thank you. No, I don't mind answering. I'm 16.

XoSexyLilHuniXo: Thanks for your support. And it was kind of a mean thought, but things turned around, didn't they? *giggles*

SaintlySmile: Yes, thank God. I don't know what I would do without other people's stories to read. They inspire me a lot of the time. I start reading what someone else has wrote, and my fingers start itching to write my own story!

Meadow A: Aaw, not quite the ending you were hoping for, but good enough maybe? It leads to bigger and better things, after all…

Heidi-Ravenclawgurl: I'm glad you liked it, and I look forward to your next chapter. Have you been having any more problems, or is everything going okay with writing it?

Evilryokojesseandfiend: Yes, it's the oldest trick. But you all seem to like it!

St3fifi3d: Thanks

Huggs: You didn't find out this chapter, but I think you will next. Thanks for reviewing!