Author's Notes:  Whoa!  I'm so sorry!  I'm not sure what happened (or why) but most of the story got cut out when I first uploaded it.  Actually all but the ending.  Sad that it'll kinda ruin reading the chapter….  Or will it?  ;-)

Enjoy!  (That is, if this works!)

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Even Better Than the Real Thing

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Please note, that I do not own the characters Draco Malfoy or Ginny Weasley, or any other magical lingo.

This is a Draco/Ginny story.

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Chapter 18:  Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

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            The whistling wind in her ears was numbing.  There was a long, thick silence, aside from the distant chirping crickets, as she waited for Draco to say something.  Anything.  She stood there frozen.  She lifted her lit wand to see his face.  The two figures were standing too far away to be illuminated by the weak light.  Feeling silly, she whispered the charm to extinguish her wand.

            Her heart was pounding in her chest as she stood there.  Her palms were starting to sweat.  It was warm.  Almost muggy.  She took a deep breath.

            "Malfoy?"  The word seemed foreign to her, uncomfortable to say.  She'd much rather have called out his first name.

            "Weasley – what are you doing here?"

This time, she realized, the voice belonged to someone else.  The person with him.  It was a deep, velvety, quiet voice.  She found it familiar, and instantly realized it was Professor Snape.  Who else would be with Malfoy, going to the Sanctuary?

            "Professor Snape?  What are you – I mean, I…I was just out for a walk.  I'll head back to the castle now."

            "Not alone, Miss Weasley."

            She heard Draco muttering something under his breath.  Professor Snape stepped forward, the gravel beneath his feet loudly crunched.

            "In fact, I've an idea.  Why don't you come with us, Miss Weasley?  I believe it would be quite appropriate."

            Ginny heard Draco sharply curse under his breath.

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Draco really didn't know what hit him.  But the next thing he knew, he was on the Occaeco Levitas, with Severus and Weasley – descending toward the Sanctuary. 

He was silently thankful that it was dark.  He couldn't see Severus' smirk.  He couldn't see Weasley's fire-red hair blowing about in the wind.  And neither of them could see his face blushing.

He tapped his foot impatiently as the device slowed.  Light from the platform burned his eyes.  Draco blinked several times, trying to adjust, and when the Occaeco Levitas stopped, he stepped off, not bothering to help Weasley off.

He cleared his throat, looking up around him.  A pain deep in his chest pinched him.  The last time he'd been here was when he was here with her.  He walked across the white marble floor, his footfalls echoing in the magical chamber.  When Draco reached the door, he opened it, and held it open for Severus.  He averted his eyes from Weasley as she passed him and into the room.

He caught a sparkling glint in the corner of his eye.

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Ginny looked around the fantastic old room once again.  She never really expected she'd ever be invited back.  And while she was still gazing around the room, Draco rushed past her and past Professor Snape to the empty room against the far wall.  He slammed the door shut behind him.  Ginny looked to Professor Snape, questioningly.

"He pouts, that one does.  Give him a moment.  He'll be out."  Severus walked to a cabinet.

Ginny seated herself, near the fire, on the same leather sofa.

Professor Snape handed her a tall goblet of champagne, and without question, she took it.

"We're celebrating tonight, remember.  His graduation."  Professor Snape gestured with his goblet toward the door.  Ginny steeled herself, half expecting a crashing sound to come from the other room.  But none came.  She turned back to the Potions Master in front of her, smiling nervously.  She wasn't sure what the protocol was in such a situation.  Ginny looked into her goblet and watched the bubbles rise.

"So what happens to Draco now?"

Professor Snape sipped his champagne and smacked his lips a moment before looking her in the eyes.

"I don't know, Miss Weasley.  And he refuses to tell me – "

The sound of the door opening interrupted him.

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Merlin, she really was here.  He peered at her from the open door before gaining his composure and walking in.  Severus handed him a goblet.  Champagne.  That was right.  He was graduating.  And they were here to celebrate.

Draco had been pacing in his thinking room for almost five minutes.  He finally decided to face the music, so to speak, and get his ass out there.  He ignored Severus' quirked eyebrow, and stood in front of the fire.  As casually as he could manage, he glanced at Weasley over his shoulder.

He shut his eyes and turned back to the fire.  He felt stunned.  Draco's breath caught in his throat.  Was that really the same girl?  Bloody hell…

She'd changed.  He noted that immediately.  Her hair was longer, in curls, though the same bright red.  She seemed to fill in a bit more.  Going after her mother's traits, he smirked.  Her eyes.  Her mouth.  Her hand – her fingers curled around the neck of her goblet.  Damn.  He nearly groaned aloud.  Same girl.

Draco calmly took a sip of champagne, turning for a second glance. 

She was breathtaking.  And…she he instantly recognized the robes she was wearing.   And the dress…the shoes…the jewelry.  All of which he'd sent her ages ago.  What was she trying to pull?  He wasn't sure if he was upset or pleased.

"To Draco – on his graduation," Severus proposed.  Draco smiled and lifted his goblet.  Weasley did the same and Severus as well.  The three whispered their cheers and drank.

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Ginny should have known it was a bad idea to come out here.  It wasn't until Professor Snape quickly downed the rest of his champagne and adjusted his robes that she realized he was preparing to leave.  She stood up.  And seeing her quick movement, he gestured for her to sit down.

"I've got business to discuss with Headmaster Dumbledore, so I must head back up to the castle," he announced loudly, and then slowly walking past Ginny, he whispered, "Miss Weasley, stay with him.  Talk to him.  If necessary, make him talk…"  His voice trailed behind him as he passed her, heading for the door.  The sound of the door clicking closed echoed throughout the chamber. 

Ginny turned to Draco, watching him slowly blush, averting his eyes.  She stood slowly, setting her near empty goblet on the table beside her.

"Come along then, Weasley, I'll walk you back up to the castle."

"My name is Ginny.  Not Weasley," she whispered, hoping to spark something in the depths of his mind.  He looked at her, smirking, looking her up and down.  Making her feel like a little girl again.

"Right – shall we?"  He took several steps to the door, adjusting his robes.

She didn't move.  She just stood there, facing the fireplace, where he'd been standing a moment before.  She refused to move.  Not until he'd talk to her.  He needed to talk.  And he needed someone to listen.  Why couldn't he see that?

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Draco groaned, his hands clenching into tight fists.  He'd learned long ago to control his rage, control the urges to break everything in sight.  It had been hard.  And his tension had built and built, until he found himself struggling to contain his emotions.  He needed an outlet.  He needed a way to either kill his temper or cool it.  Merlin, he really needed something to break.

He ran his hands roughly through his hair, ruining whatever style it had been in.  He glanced at her, standing stiff, staring into the fire.  Her hands were clasped in front of her, her silver dress robes shimmering in the firelight.  Her hair matching the orange and red flames.  Her pale skin glowing.  He shook himself.

He paced.  Behind her, out of her view.  Occasionally throwing glares and glances her way.  He sighed loudly, making a big show about his irritation.  What was this?  He felt like a little boy.  Suffering some sort of punishment.  He looked up at her.  No, not a punishment.  Merlin, she was too beautiful to be a punishment.

"Why don't you sit down, Draco?"

He shivered, nearly collapsing to the floor.  Her soft tone, quiet voice disarmed him completely.  He felt cold.  And still tense, though not fighting himself.  He kept pacing, shaking his head, even though she couldn't see.

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She turned to look at him.  He was pacing, as usual.  And when he noticed her watching him, he stilled.  She blinked several times, counting the loud thumping of her heartbeats, before she dared to use her voice again. 

"Please?"

He closed his eyes, completely lost.  He took several wobbly steps to her, and she thought he was moving to sit down, but instead, she felt his arms wrap around her neck, pulling her body into his.  Her breath came in quick, shallow pulls as she tried to keep herself from crying.  Her face pressed against his chest, she could hear his heart pounding, the pace matching her own.

She slid her arms around his chest, pressing her fingers into his chest.  Ginny savored the smell of his cologne, and slowly pulled herself from her reverie when she realized he was sobbing.  She squeezed him tight, but couldn't manage to say anything comforting.

"Virginia…"

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U2 – Even Better Than the Real Thing

U2 – Stay (Faraway, So Close!)