Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N*
/edit I had originally planned to post this on Valentine's day – my beta (thank you so much!) even emailed it back to me just in time, only I spent the day in Chicago with some friends and we missed the right train back, so I kind of forgot to check my email…sorry! But here it is, in the flesh, with the original authors notes and everything – which had assumed it would be posted on V-Day.
Warning: This chapter is pure fluff. So forgive me if it lacks as many Weasley/Malfoy hatred moments as usual, and forgive me if I fail to bring Blaise/Harry/Franny/Pansy into this chapter, but it's Valentine's Day, and I thought it was high time you D/Gers got some fluff. =D
Chapter 10. The Power of a Kiss
The East Wing of Malfoy Manor hosted grand bedchambers, Draco's being the most magnificent. Windows stretched, sparkling clear, to the ceiling, filtering in the warm beams of sun in the early morning. They were adorned with heavy green draperies, dark, plush, lined with silver, and rarely let down, and overlooked the beautiful lake lying still in frosty dawn.
Normally, Draco let down the curtains surrounding his four-poster bed to block an unwelcome ray of bright sun interrupting his sleep. It was a habit Ginny grew accustomed to, as more and more often she began spending the nights at his estate, in his chamber.
This particular morning, however, the curtains had not been released – they must have been preoccupied the night before; and Ginny was rudely awakened in the height of her slumber. As usual, it took a few moments before she realized where she was, her first thought being that the satin sheets entangling her body felt much smoother than those she was accustomed to.
He was folded around her, warm breath tickling her ears, and the rhythmic rising of his chest comforting against her own. She turned gently in his arms, blinking to adjust to the light, and gazed at his resting face. Never before had she had the chance to simply admire him, his aristocratic features and perfect skin; as he alwa awoke before her. Certainly he was not conventionally handsome, with his sharp eyebrows and angular features, yet bathed in the morning light, a small smile curled at the edges of his normally smirking lips, he was, to her, the epitome of Adonis, her Adonis.
But was he really hers?
Ginny wondered then how many women before her had lain in this position, nestled in his bare arms, admiring his face. She wondered how many women he had promised love and dreams to, and then realized with a start, that he had never promised her anything.
She must have tensed then, because as if sensing her perusal, he opened his eyes, slowly as not to frighten her, and a smile flashed across his face before it settled back into regular impassiveness. "Morning, lazy," He murmured into her ear.
"Draco?"
He moved slightly. "Mmm."
"Draco, what am I to you?"
Now he turned, slowly, onto his side so that his head was propped up by one hand and he was facing her. She tugged at the sheets self-consciously, wishing they covered more, as he raked darkening grey eyes over her scantily clad body. "I don't know," he said after a moment, a suppressed smirk curling the edges of his lips. "A convenient fuck?"
A look of absolute horror wove itself onto her face, eyes watering profusely upon hearing the exact words she had dreaded. She opened her mouth to tell him off, to slap him, to anything, except she couldn't seem to do much of anything but lie there and stare with appalled disbelief. He watched her with amused eyes for a moment, which of course only further fanned her rage, a fact to which he gave a laugh and pulled her close. She struggled in his arms, proceeding to entangle their sheets further, and he murmured in her ear, "Silly, silly Gin. You know you're more than that. You're much more than that."
~*~
"Miss? Would you like to order?"
Ginny turned her face to the waiter, a small smile playing at her lips. "No thank you, I'm waiting for someone," she informed him politely, and he disappeared into the throng. She returned to her lemon-spiked water and glossy fashion magazine, the smile growing wider by the second.
I'm waiting for Draco.
It sounded so odd to say that, as if they were an item. But weren't they? It had been five weeks, five beautiful, glorious weeks since they had come together for the first – or second, really – time, and she was enjoying every minute of it. But now, Ginny knew enough about Draco to take it slowly, to not pressure him, and their odd little relationship was prospering wonderfully.
Sure, he could be a bit cold and distant sometimes, but she learned not to take it personally. It was the way Draco Malfoy was programmed, and nobody was going to change that. In truth, it didn't bother her so much, his difficulty opening up to her, because the way he looked at her when he thought she didn't know told more than she could have ever asked for.
At first, she was afraid they had been caught up on the passion, in the heat of the moment. They never spoke much about themselves, or about the connection they shared. Of course, they did most everything together, as she did care for his son, and he treated her as an equal, but she was never quite sure whether he just saw her as a mistress, or whether worse yet, if she was just one of many.
The weeks passed quickly, but slowly at the same time. She was spending nearly all the nights at Malfoy Manor – and in his bed no less – and yet through all that time, he had never once vocalized his affections for her, never once showed it other than an occasional gesture of kindness that made her swell with happiness.
And then, of course, there was this morning.
"You're much more than that."
Ginny closed her eyes, grinning just at the memory. She could still feel his soft breath on her ear, the sudden but undeniable speeding up of his heartbeat beneath hers. She shouldn't have asked him, she knew, but it was nagging her, bothering her even in their most harmonious of moments, and she needed some confirmation of sorts.
On the other hand, if he really had seen her that way, she might not have had the heart to leave his bed either.
But he didn't, she reminded herself, letting out a small, content sigh.
"Thinking of me, are we," a voice drawled from above her, and she opened her eyes to see Draco.
He was dressed almost like a muggle. Almost, because no matter what Draco Malfoy wore it would always been expensive and richly crafted, and no doubt above muggle material. He was without a robe, naturally, yet still in dark colors – charcoal pressed trousers and a classy black sweater. And was he wearing glasses?
Smirking at her, Draco took a seat.
"Draco?" She said, almost in disbelief. "Why have you got on those – those glasses?"
"Well," He answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You are making me have lunch at a muggle place. I thought it would be prudent to dress—" he paused "—not exactly like a wizard."
"You look intelligent," she noted with appreciation in her voice, and he flicked that slightly disinterested stare at her.
"I am intelligent," Draco harrumphed.
"Fine then," Ginny waved her hand. "You have good taste in muggle clothing. Is that better?"
He rolled his eyes. "Of course I have good taste, Ginny. Any idiot could tell that."
She was near ready to challenge his difficulty of accepting compliments when unexpectedly, Draco reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers and locking their gazes. "After all," He said in a soft voice she had never before heard, "I'm with you."
A flaming blush crept up her neck, and her eyes softened. "Oh Draco," Ginny whispered, shifting forward in her chair to brush their noses together. She brought her lips towards his, closer…closer…
He flickered his eyes to her own, and a small smirk tugged at his lips as she moved in for an appreciative snog…
"Ahem."
They jumped apart – or rather, she jumped away – to see the waiter standing patiently. "You are ready to order?"
Ginny sat back and hid her face, listening as Draco rattled off the most expensive entrees with collected coolness.
A few moments later, he sat back with a satisfied expression upon his face and faced her. "You look annoyed," He observed, as if it amused him.
"I'm not," Ginny gave a small sigh, swirling the ice cubes inside her glass absentmindedly. "Just glad to finally see you, that's all."
He frowned. "Was I late?"
"No no," she hurried to say. "I just…it's been a long day. That's all."
"I see," Draco smirked. "Here's where I'm supposed to comfort you, isn't it?"
She folded her arms and eyed him pensively. "And why don't you?"
"Because," he replied, shrugging, "I'd be – oh what's that word those muggles use – whipped."
"Don't you have to be in a relationship to be whipped?" Ginny rolled her eyes.
She could sense the hesitation. "Aren't we?"
"Well—"
"Unless you'd rather just be…shag buddies," He amended, earning himself a seething glare. "To which I'd have no objections." He let out a small sigh. "I feel a shift in the conversation," Draco stated matter-of-factly, and crossed his arms. "Now explain to me why."
"Draco," Ginny said in a tiny voice. "You're married."
"I know," he answered quietly, playing with his own drink. Then, gently, he took her palm and turned it over, tracing the lines of her hand. "But I don't love her, Gin. I never have."
"Do you love me?" She blurted out before she could stop herself.
There was a long, drawn out pause, and then he cocked his head at her, smiling that lipless smile of his. "Well, you did choose a muggle café to dine at," he began.
She should have expected that he would avoid the question.
"Never mind," Ginny snapped, snatching her hand away.
He slid closer to her, chair scraping against the stone of the ground. "Ginny," He said, cupping her chin with one cool hand and forcing her head towards his. "That is beyond the point. The point is that I don't love her."
She let him capture her other hand, and gave a long sigh of resignation. "I see there's no point in continuing this topic," Ginny whispered. "Is there?"
He shook his head.
"This is wrong, you know," Ginny went on. "You and me. We're wrong."
Though she expected him to be angered, he instead just arched an eyebrow. "Of course we're wrong," Draco agreed, letting go of her chin. "I'm a Malfoy. You're a Weasley. I'm wealthy. You're poor. I'm cultured. You aren't."
She furrowed her eyebrows together, feeling as if she should have been more offended. "Then why are we-why do I-why do you—"
"Why have we slept together?" Draco finished calmly.
She blinked.
"Ask yourself," He said in a soft voice. "Though sometimes I do wonder why I've stooped to such a level."
"You're a bastard," She glowered at him. "And you're cold, and distant, and somewhat heartless. You never tell me anything, nor do you tell anyone else of me, and you never want to talk."
"Aren't we talking right now?" He objected.
"You're gone when I wake up most mornings, leaving me to take care of your son," Ginny continued, ignoring him entirely. "You don't care enough for your son, either, Draco. You make me ache inside, you treat me as if I'm nothing to you. As if I'm nothing, period. You—"
She was silenced then by his thumb, the pad, rough and comforting, against her lips. "Then why," Draco said, not in the least fazed, "Do you let me?"
Her voice broke. "Because of the passion. Because when you kiss me, I don't care that you're married. I don't care about anything else except you, and your kisses, and suddenly that kiss is more important than all promises of sorts, and—"
"And passion," Draco finished. "Isn't that enough?"
She stared at him with doe brown eyes, wide and surprised, and her mouth parted underneath the gentle pressure of his finger. He traced his thumb all along her lower lip, slightly wetted from the brief contact with her tongue, and she could feel the power of his darkening mercury eyes in his touch.
"Draco," Ginny started breathlessly, and shifted slightly closer.
"Your food," The waiter announced loudly, causing Draco to slide his chair back to its normal position.
"Of course," Draco said, neatly unfolding the napkin and flashing him the familiar, aloof Malfoy smirk that was supposed to symbolize gratitude.
She couldn't hold back the sigh that escaped her lips, and smiled appreciatively as she took her food. Then, from underneath the table, she felt him draw his foot gently along the bare skin of her calf, tickling her lightly and inducing a nearly inaudible, but definitely pleased gasp.
"Draco," Ginny hissed.
He grinned.
~*~
"So," Draco said as they were walking around Hogsmeade later in the day. "Suppose a very rich wizard needed to garner publicity for his company. How would he go about doing that?"
She turned towards him and raised an eyebrow. There was a suitable distance between them, of at least two feet, so had Ron or anyone chanced their path, there would be no suspicion as to them being there, together. "Why would he need to garner publicity?"
Draco shrugged. "Mr. Bronson."
"I thought you secured that deal," Ginny said, steering them towards a shop of delicacies. He glanced at her in surprise.
"I did," He answered after a momentary pause. So she has a sweet tooth.
"Okay," She said slowly. "Then why must you get publicity?"
She was not looking at him as she spoke, brown eyes wide and concentrated on the food before her. The warm sunlight flooding in through the window caught errant gold in her hair, and he caught himself staring, transfixed by its soft red. "Just because I've secured a deal doesn't mean it will stay secured," Draco said with slight impatience. "Bronson is a fickle man. I've told you that."
Her eyes remained focused on a chocolate cake for so long he wondered if she had heard him. "Is he married?"
He made a grunting sound. "Why else would family be so important?"
"Have you met Mrs. Bronson?" Ginny inquired eagerly. "What's she like?"
Draco frowned. "I somehow fail to see the relevance, Gin."
"Answer the question," She retorted, turning towards the back shelves of neatly stacked candies.
Draco sighed, racking his memory. "I think her name is Julia. She's American, if I remember correctly. Very young, actually. Tall, blue eyes and light brown hair."
"It doesn't matter what she looks like," Ginny interrupted. "What does she enjoy?"
His frown only grew deeper. "I wouldn't know," He said, with a touch of annoyance.
"Does she like elegant affairs?" Ginny pressed.
"I would imagine so," Draco huffed.
Ginny paused, perusing the shelf of delicious sweets before turning to him with a wide, exuberant smile. "You could host a dance," she suggested excitedly. "A grand ball."
He cocked his eyebrow at her. "A ball?" Draco repeated somewhat skeptically, and glanced away.
She gave an emphatic nod. "Oh yes, a ball. A most elegant affair in the ballroom – you do have a ballroom, don't you – that will be in the news for weeks and weeks to come."
It became obvious then that he was not looking at her because he was trying valiantly to suppress a smile.
"What," Ginny demanded, "Is so funny?"
Pursing his lips together, Draco turned towards her, and she was struck by the tenderness in his smoldering eyes. "You," He said in that smug, low voice, and then added, "Your ability to make me smile." It was tinged with such surprising affection, she near melted.
"Oh," she whispered, standing on her tip toes and bringing their faces close together.
"And we do have a ballroom," He announced plaintively, right when their lips almost met. "Of course we have a ballroom. We're Malfoy."
It ruined the moment terribly, of course, and with an exasperated sigh Ginny shook her head, and returned her attention to the food.
~*~
"Third," Ginny announced, scanning her scroll of parchment. "Third is the Quidditch shop."
"Huh," Draco noted. "And why are we going there?"
"You wanted to go there," Ginny reminded. "For Merlin knows why."
"Right, right." Draco agreed. "For Sebastian, actually."
"Isn't Sebastian a tad young to be playing Quidditch?" Ginny asked.
"You can't be too young to play Quidditch," came his indignant reply. "And at any rate, he's six. He's a big boy."
He held the door for her as she stepped into the store.
His nose brushed against her neck, ever so softly. "Draco," she whispered, arms coming around to hold him close for support.
She felt his lips trail soft butterfly kisses around her jaw line, moving closer to her own, with mind-numbing slowness…
"Oh fuck," He muttered.
The moment ruined, she spun around to spot a thankfully oblivious redhead laughing, a familiar witch upon his arm. "What is my brother doing here?" Ginny hissed.
"I could ask the same thing," Draco said, surprisingly calm.
"He's coming towards us," Ginny cried. "Do you think he's spotted us?"
"I don't particularly care," was his nonchalant response.
"Draco," she begged as Ron neared, "Do something."
Heaving a sigh, Draco flicked his wand at her, not a split second before the duo appeared before them.
"Malfoy," Ron said, looking surprised.
"Weasley," Draco acknowledged coolly. His gaze shifted to the two men who followed suit, face remaining placid. "Weasley, and Weasley. And Mudblood, of course."
Fred and George exchanged glances.
Ginny felt her face grow hot, and she wondered frantically why Ron had yet to explode. It was impossible that he hadn't seen her, standing at Malfoy's side. Or maybe he hadn't thought them to be together…yes, that must have been it.
There was an awkward silence.
Draco slid his arm around Ginny then, pulling her close so she was pressed tightly into the grooves of his body. He placed a kiss into her hair, and she stiffened, eyes widening in horror, and focused on her brothers. But to her immense surprise, the only expression which appeared in Ron's face was one of distaste.
"And who's this, Malfoy?" He sneered. "One of your whores, no doubt."
Draco smiled. It wasn't really much of a smile, but gave him the aura of one who was extremely content. "Think what you will, Weasley," He answered.
Ginny blinked in confusion. Had her own brother just called her a whore?
"Must be," Hermione chimed in. "You can't get a girl otherwise, huh Malfoy."
"Not that you would know anything about being a girl," Draco smirked, causing her to flush hotly.
Fred stepped forward. "Now you better listen here—"
"I don't have to listen to anyone, much less you," Draco retorted, and at the same time slid the hand, which was previously around Ginny's waist, down lower.
She gasped, stumbling forward a little, her mouth dropping open in shock. If she was surprised already, however, nothing could have startled her more than catching her reflection in the overhanging mirror and realizing that she was no longer a redhead. No, she had long locks of loose golden curls, bright and shiny, and…were her eyes blue? She squinted.
"Draco, I'm blond, " Ginny hissed before she could stop herself, and Ron snorted.
"Oh I see you've picked an intelligent one there," He remarked meanly.
Draco simply smirked at her while raking his eyes over her body appreciatively and pulling her towards him once more. "Oh very," He said to Ron. "And feisty in bed, too."
Hermione nearly choked. "Spare us, Malfoy."
He raised his hand in a mock salute. "Your wish is my command, you filthy muggle-lovers."
"Hey!" George yelled after him as he sauntered out of the store, speechless Ginny in tow, and stepped into the afternoon light.
"I cannot believe you did that," Ginny reprimanded as soon as they were out of earshot.
With great amusement, he took out his smooth wand and languidly pointed it at her. "Well, you did tell me to do something."
She crossed her arms and glared at him. "And you just happened to make me look exactly like Barbie?"
"Like who?"
"Like your wife," Ginny said pointedly. "Like Pansy."
He arched an eyebrow now, one arm sliding around her and the other absently playing at her hair – red, once more. "How many times do I have to tell you I don't love her?"
"She's not exactly unattractive," Ginny retorted, realizing she was sounding much like an immature child.
"She is," He said in the softest voice. "Compared to you. But then again, isn't everyone?"
Devoid of her own volition, the corners of her lips curved into a smile. "I can't believe you just said that," she said a little dreamily. "I must have been hallucinating."
"Why is it so hard to believe?" He asked,still so gentle.
"You're Malfoy," she answered.
"Thank you for stating the obvious," Draco smirked, and with her lips still fixed in that pleased, dizzy smile she moved towards him.
He pulled away suddenly. "Come on," He said, seemingly not noticing her incredulous stare. "We wouldn't want your brothers finding us here, now would we?"
She nearly whined as he tugged her away, but instead fell silent with disappointment and let him whirl her into yet another store.
~*~
By six in the evening, Ginny was getting very well fed up.
They had spent the entire day together – the first since they had shared their first kiss – and he had yet to kiss her. Maybe he was afraid of others seeing, as Merlin knew she was terrified of Ron and Hermione chancing their way, but even in the most secure of places, during the most opportune of moments, she found him shying away. And intentionally, too.
She was standing now in Renault's Bookstore, the last stop of their day, and the incessant brushing of his light fingers against hers was driving her mad.
"Draco," Ginny sighed, turning around.
He stared down at her calmly. "I'm preoccupied at this moment, if you can't tell."
She furrowed her brow. "With what?"
"Thinking," He answered stoutly. "About the ball that will not happen."
"You know you'd enjoy it," She grinned.
It happened again, that shine which briefly sparkled in his eyes. "It's a possibility," He said softly, glancing at her lips in signal to kiss him.
Ginny refused to fall into his trap, sending him a glare instead. Stupid prat, she thought, thinking he has such power over me. Thinking he can make me just wanton with lust and kiss him whenever he wants me to.
Ignoring the smirk which touched his lips, she strode towards the back of the books, pretending to be highly interested in the volumes of Muggle History stacked along the upper shelves. She was oblivious to the fact that he was watching her arse swing provocatively with every step as he followed her. "Draco," Ginny said conversationally, picking up the third volume. "Don't you own these?"
She turned, brown eyes large and innocent, to see him observing her with a predatory gleam. In a heartbeat she was trapped against the shelf, nerveless fingers shoving the book back in its place as she glanced up at his handsome face. "I don't own anything pertaining to muggles," he murmured, breath tickling her ear.
Placing two firm hands upon his chest, Ginny moved to push him away. He caught them by the wrists, gently playing with the work-hardened pads and nuzzling her cheek with his nose. "Draco," she protested weakly. "This isn't fair."
"Life isn't fair," he retorted, but gently, so gently.
There was a moment of content silence as he trailed his hands to steady her waist and studied her from under those beautiful golden eyelashes.
"Although it seems pretty fair to me," Draco went on, driving her mad with the calmness of it all. "I've had everything I could possibly ask for, you know. All the galleons in the world."
"Money isn't everything," she whispered breathlessly, struggling to sound snotty.
"No," Draco agreed. "But it does mean a lot. Money gives you power. Money gives you the time and energy to make benefit ball possible."
A grin lit up her face. "You'll have one then?"
"You are such a stubborn woman," Draco said, only it was almost complimentary, and stroked her cheek with the backs of his knuckles.
"Will you?" she asked, impatiently.
"Maybe I will," Draco replied nonchalantly, and before she could respond he had lowered his mouth to hers, indifferent to those around them, and captured her lips in a searing kiss.
It was unlike the others they had shared before. Though it didn't lack passion there was one more element she hadn't yet experienced – a tenderness that spoke volumes and caused her heart to beat rapidly. He seemed more pleading in this kiss than domineering, more willing to treat her to a special gentleness because truly, he knew that was what she wanted.
He trailed his tongue along the velvet of her lower lip lightly, so lightly, and when she gave a soft moan his own lips curled into a smile against hers. The prevalent difference, however, was that it was a smile more pleased than satisfied, as if he was asking her to enjoy the kiss, as if he was asking her to be affected by the power that was Draco Malfoy.
As if he was asking her to love him.
They pulled apart slowly, almost reluctantly, her world dizzy and his dancing silver eyes the only thing she could focus upon. She was at a loss for words, contemplative and admiring until Draco countered petulantly, "And maybe I won't."
She smacked him on the arm.
~End of Chapter 10~
A/N* Okay, okay, I know you guys all think this is near ending, but that would be terrible, because there are so many questions and secrets that have yet to be revealed! Don't forget, there's Harry, there's Franny, there's Pansy, there's Blaise and his whole sordid affair with Vanessa Flint (think Chapter 5), and there's our favorite character of all – Sebastian. I was just thinking that since it's Valentine's Day and all, you fandomers deserved some honest D/G fluffiness. A pure,angst-free chapter with a touch of Unresolved Sexual Tension. Well, do review (no flames, please) and I'll be off working on the next chapter.