DISCLAIMER – None belong to me! None! 'Cept, y'know, the plot. Duh.

AUTHOR'S NOTE – IS HE DEAD?????? Did I say he's dead? No…. I don't believe so… but is he? *cackles evilly* we'll see………

Aida, I am not a bloody bint.

RATING – PG 13

SAVING DRACO

Ginny stirred restlessly, trying to escape from the bondage of sleep. Her head hurt like hell, but she had no recollection why, and… wait a minute, this wasn't her room! She could tell by the voices beside her that one was Madam Pomfrey, the other one was Pansy, and there were a few others she just couldn't place. She jumped to the most obvious conclusion that she was sick, and she was in the hospital wing. But the last thing she remembered was that Draco proposed to her, and she had so badly wanted to say yes but something had stopped her. What was it?

"Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

She could see it now, the shocked faces of the students and teachers in the Hall, Draco's silver eyes alight with hope, could remember her mixed emotions as she pondered the question, but— something had stopped her from answering.

"Stupefy!"

Someone had stunned her.

She remembered now.

She was just about to answer, to open her mouth, but the curse had knocked her right off her feet, and off the stairs.

Suddenly, she was aware that the voices around her had stopped, and total silence pervaded. Wrinkling her brow in consternation, she whispered hoarsely, "Madam Pomfrey? Pansy? Are you there?" Then a cool hand smoothed the hair away from her brown and she heard Pansy's choked up voice saying,

"Ginny, we're here. Don't worry. Go back to sleep." Ginny's stomach turned at the sadness in Pansy's voice, something had happened, she was sure of it.

"Oh, Merlin. What happened, Pansy? Where's Draco? Why am I here? What's wrong with me, my eyes won't open!" It was delivered in a rising crescendo, ending on a shriek. Ginny was panicking but good. And then Madam Pomfrey's brisk voice was speaking to her,

"Miss Weasley. I must insist that you keep your voice down; your eyes won't open because you were meant to be sleeping, not thrashing around shrieking like a mad woman. Now, please go to sleep." Somewhat comforted that at least Madam Pomfrey was being her usual strict, bossy self, and that her eyes weren't permanently damaged or anything of the sort, she fell asleep.

She never heard Pansy's muffled sobs, or saw the tear slipping down Madam Pomfrey's cheek.

~*~*~*~

He saw a bright light, almost blindingly so, but beautiful and warm like the embrace of a mother and suddenly he felt – safe, protected, like everything bad was far, far, away from the glorious light. It beckoned to him, calling his name, it sounded like the voices of a thousand angels, breathy and melodic, low and soothing. He took a tentative step forward and suddenly, the pull there was stronger, more compelling, so much so it almost frightened him. He caught a glimpse of what lay behind the light, and he saw rolling hills, green meadows, clear lakes, beautiful people, and it looked so tempting, so peaceful, so good.

But he heard a voice, a very familiar voice. It tugged at his heart; it roused familiar feelings that were bittersweet in nature but it made him feel like something was missing from the place that twinkled so brightly. He looked intently at the fields beyond the light, it was calling to him louder than ever. But the lone voice behind him made his footsteps falter, and the feelings it wrought within his heart were not all good, but it felt familiar and warm, even warmer than the light had been.

Slowly, he turned.

And came face to face with Ginny.

"Don't leave me," Ginny whispered to him, her beautiful red hair moving slightly in the light breeze that had picked up around them. "please?" Merlin, her eyes, brown and brimming with unshed tears made Draco's heart rend itself in two. A slim fair hand came up to trace the contours of his face, and he unconsciously leaned into her touch, his eyelids drooping contentedly.

"Ginny?" Her name felt so beautiful on his lips.

"Please don't go."

The pull became irresistible, and he turned his head to get another look at the light that called him so unrelentingly.

"But – but, it's calling me."

Ginny looked up at him, her eyes speaking to him of her sorrow.

"You don't have to go, my love." She leaned in and tilted her face up, capturing his in a deep, soul-searching kiss. Around them, the light breeze picked up more, became a strong wing that picked up leaves and pieces of dirt and swirled around them, tornado-style. Her hair clung to his cheek as they stayed lip-locked, not once noticing the mini-tornado raging around them, so lost they were in the passion of the moment. He broke off the kiss, looking deeply into her soulful chocolate eyes as he tenderly ran his knuckles down the soft curve of her cheek. And pressed a quick, chaste kiss on the smooth expanse of her brow.

"Then I won't." He smiled at her, his silvery eyes turning molten as he conveyed his love for her through his eyes alone. The silver orbs spoke of everlasting love, continuing tenderness, and unconditional trust. She leaned into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her slim frame, her hair smoothing down as the storm around them settled and became calm. They stayed that way for a few more minutes, reveling in the warmth and satisfaction of the moment, knowing that soon they would have to return to the physical world and trying to keep that moment away for as long as possible.

They turned walked away, hand-in-hand, and he never once turned back to stare longingly at the place of light he was leaving behind. In his opinion, what he gained was far better than what he had lost.

~*~*~*~

Draco's body jerked spasmodically as he drew in a gasping breath and his eyes flew open, making the Healers surrounding his bedside draw in a collective gasp of shock.

~*~*~*~

Ginny's eyelids fluttered open, her back arching right off the bed as she cried out Draco's name.

~*~*~*~

Draco sat beside Ginny's bed, watching his beloved sleep. He gave up paradise for her, and did not consider it a loss, or even a fair deal. He gained a lot more than what he had lost, for an eternity without Ginny would be like an eternity in hell, he mused to himself as he took her pale, cool hand in his warm one. She would wake up soon, Madam Pomfrey had assured him. They had made her sleep in the hopes of trying an obscure form of bringing back the dead, true love. Many knew about it, but thought it was a legend, that it couldn't possibly be true. But Draco knew better, it worked for him and Ginny. Their love had overcome all boundaries, and would grow from strength to strength as time went by. He was sure of it. He could see Ginny with his children in her arms, then with silver streaks in her hair and skin not as smooth and clear as it was now, but she would still be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. Because he loved her. Because she was who she was. She would truly be immortalized by the power of his love, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would speak of it with reverence and awe, for they had cheated death for their love. As he wrote in his letter to Ginny, 'their love would be deep and have immortal life.'

He would make sure of it.

~*~*~*~

Ginny surfaced from the deep sleep that engulfed her after she came back from rescuing Draco – had it all been a dream? She felt the warm pressure that surrounded her fingers squeeze a bit harder, and she instinctively knew it was Draco. Her Draco. She smiled, opening her eyes.

"Hey," she whispered just a wee bit croakily, grinning at him lopsidedly. Draco did not reply, just kissed her soundly. She pushed back, frowning at him.

"What?" he asked, a bit nonplussed by her reaction to his kiss.

"You've got morning breath." she informed him matter-of-factly, sticking her delicate nose up in the air as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Brat," he growled at her, jumping on her, not letting go even as she kicked and squealed at him. "No one tells me I have morning breath when I just got back from the dead alright?" He started tickling her unmercifully, watching her squirm and giggle breathlessly, her face a bright red. "Say uncle," he demanded, pausing for a second. She shook her head vigorously, gasping for air. "Say it!" he yelled, burying his fingers into her side, scooting back a little to avoid her kicking legs.

"U-uncle!! Uncle! Gerroff!!!!" She squealed, bucking under him in an effort to get him off her. He leaned over her, grinning evilly. "Hey!" she pouted, "I brought you back! Is this how you repay me?" He pretended to think it over, resting his chin in the palm of his hand.

"Nope, this is." And he kissed her deeply, making her forget all about the morning breath.

"Mmmmmm….," she murmured huskily as she leaned back and smiled at him from beneath her lashes. "I do believe rescuing you was a good idea after all, even though I didn't know I was going to until Madam Pomfrey gave me a potion and didn't tell me until I was in some parallel universe thingamajigy."

"So it was an unwitting rescue?"

"Mmmm… yeah, you could say that,"

"Was it worth it?"

"I wouldn't know. Convince me?"

And he did. With his mouth.

~*~*~*~THE END!!!!!!~*~*~*~

Whew! Done! It was short, but I wanted to wrap it up, hope you guys like it!!!

~Nicki~