Ginny awoke from her place next to Draco's bed to someone singing softly. Opening her eyes, she realized it was Draco. He was singing some little war ditty and his voice was mellow and, Ginny thought, rather sexy. She felt his hand run through her tangle of red curls as he smiled down at her.
"I'm sorry Princess. I didn't mean to wake you." He said.
"How do you feel?" Ginny asked, raising her head from her arms off the side of his bed to look closely at his eyes and then her watch as she took his pulse.
"Very sore." He said, wincing as she pulled him into an upright position so she could have a look at his back.
"I'll bet. I'm afraid you're going to have scars. Madame Pomfrey and I did the best we could, but some of these marks looked as though they'd been there for a while." Ginny said, frowning at the mass of red welts on his back.
"Three days." Draco said, quietly.
"THREE DAYS?" Ginny exclaimed. "You were captured for three days? They...they.... BEAT you for three days?"
"It's alright Gin. Snape got me out." Draco said, seeing the growing alarm on her face.
"Oh, Draco, you just don't understand how close you cut it. It took Poppy and I all afternoon, and ALL our magic, you'd lost so much blood. We weren't sure you'd recover in time. And you've been under Cruciatus too, haven't you? I can see all the signs. Do you know how lucky you are not to be drooling and incomprehensible?" Ginny exclaimed. Her lip trembled and her voice began to quaver towards the end of her tirade.
Draco could see what was coming. "Its alright Princess. I'm alive."
Ginny felt the dam that had been holding back the flood of tears give way and she threw her arms around Draco, sobbing. "I was so afraid. I was so bloody afraid I'd lost you."
Draco held onto Ginny as she cried and tried to soothe her. There had been times in the past like this. Times when he was almost grateful that Ginny was so upset because he could concentrate on her and trying to set her mind at ease, and ignore how afraid he was himself. It had been the most horrifying three days of his life, and if it were not for the red haired woman clinging to him right now, he might break into sobs himself.
Somehow Ginny found herself lying on the narrow hospital bed next to Draco, wound up in his embrace. When the flow of tears finally ran itself out, he kissed away the wetness on her cheeks.
"I don't know how I'd go on Draco, if something happened to you." She said, amid his butterfly kisses.
"I wouldn't leave you all alone. You're what kept me going, those three days. My red haired Princess." He whispered in her ear before he ran his tongue along the edge of it.
Draco moved over the top of Ginny. She sighed as she felt his comforting weight holding her down on the bed. As he captured her lips with his, Ginny felt a furious desperation growing inside her. She had nearly lost this man and it made her both afraid and angry. Their tongues twined together in a dance of passion. He ran his hands down her body, doing away with her clothes as he went, along with the few he had on.
As he settled himself between her legs, he said, "Look at me Ginny. I want to see us in your eyes. I want you to see us in mine."
Ginny's eyes snapped open as he entered her in one powerful thrust. The pace mounted quickly as Ginny felt herself move towards a prepice of emotion. She could see Draco was moving there with her as his thrusts became more and more frenzied, her hips rising to meet him with each one. When she heard him moan it was the last push she needed. In her mind she felt Draco take her hand and they plunged over the edge together.
Draco collapsed onto her, exhausted. Ginny savored his weight for a few moments, then carefully eased out from under him, gathering her clothes off the floor and padding to the bathroom adjoining his room. When she came out, she found him nearly asleep. He smiled drowsily at her and lifted the edge of the blanket, inviting her back to join him.
She smiled at him and shook her head. "Nuh uh. I have to go make rounds. You aren't my only patient you know."
"Rounds? It's the middle of the night!" Draco complained through a yawn.
Ginny grinned at him and stroked the side of his face as she planted a peck on his lips. "Yes, I know. I should have done it hours ago. Go to sleep. We shouldn't have done that so soon. I've worn you out."
"Just the medicine I needed, "Draco said, giving her a wolfish grin. "Will you come back when you've done your rounds and sleep here with me?"
"Draco, I doubt I'll be sleeping anymore tonight. We've all been working double shifts here, trying to keep up with the wounded coming in. Poppy must have been covering for me all this time. But I will come back, when I can."
He nodded and closed his eyes as she slipped out the door.
Later that morning, Draco awoke to the door opening. He smiled, expecting it to be Ginny, back from her rounds but it wasn't her. Instead he saw Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape standing in his doorway.
"May we enter, Mr. Malfoy?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Of course Headmaster." Draco said, sitting up quickly.
"You and I and Professor Snape need to talk about what happened and about what's going to happen now, Mr. Malfoy." Said Dumbledore, settling into the chair next to Draco's bed. Snape sat down in one a little further away.
"Professor Snape, "started Draco." I owe you a great debt. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you risked your life to get me out of there."
"You owe me nothing Mr. Malfoy. We all do what we must. "Said Snape.
"Severus, I assume they are aware now that you were undercover?" asked Dumbledore, looking at Snape.
"Yes sir. I'm afraid Malfoy's bungling into capture caused me to expose myself. I couldn't get a moment alone with him, so I was forced into snatching him when they had their backs turned, literally. My cover is surely blown, but perhaps I can take some polyjuice potion, assume another identity and go back in. I have learned a lot, but I am sure there is much more." Said Snape.
"No Severus, you have done all you could there. I would not risk your life again by sending you back. There are other things for you to do now." He said, steepling his hands before his face. Then he turned to Draco and said, "Mr. Malfoy, there has been some recent news come to my ears that I think you can help with. But I fear what I have to tell you will also disturb you greatly."
"Just tell me what I can do to help sir." Draco said.
"We have word that what's left of Voldemort's army is converging on one area. It's the area your division is in. We believe that he has learned where Harry Potter is, and is intent on disposing of him. I believe Voldemort believes this will ensure victory for him. "Said Dumbledore.
"What can I do to help sir? I'll be glad to go back into the field with my unit, just as soon as they release me." Said Draco.
"Wait Mr. Malfoy. You haven't heard all I have to say yet. When you do, you may want to reconsider your offer. And let me say, no one will blame you or look down on you if you do. You've been quite seriously injured according to Poppy and that alone is enough to discharge you from further service-"
"Sir." Interrupted Draco." I will go back. I'm fine. Ginny said I'll heal except for a few scars. I'm not afraid to go back." He ruefully thought of the drowsy daydreams that he'd been having earlier about the medical discharge and marrying Ginny, going back to the magicians' orchestra, and settling down.
"Even if I told you it was your father leading Voldemort's army, Draco?" Dumbledore asked softly, looking hard at Draco.
Draco was taken aback. "My father?" he whispered.
"I won't deny we need you Mr. Malfoy. No one could possibly determine what Lucius's plans will be better than you. I am aware he trained you for most of your life to think like him. It was a great worry and distress for me, but now, if you decide to continue to fight, I find that the very thing I worried over could cement the end of this war for us." Said Dumbledore.
Snape had remained silent through all this. Now he rose from his chair and leaned in close to Draco.
"Do not falter boy!" he hissed at him. "You know what you need to do. Do not let bad blood lead you away from your chosen path. He is your father, but that does not make him right. What is it YOU want?"
Draco's head snapped around to glare at Snape. Not dropping his gaze from Snape's stare, he replied to Dumbledore. "I'll go back sir. No one knows Lucius Malfoy better than I do. Just as soon as you can get me out of here."
"Good, good. "Dumbledore said, patting Draco's hand. "I'll see to it. We shall leave within the hour. I assume you'd like to speak to Miss Weasley before you go, Mr. Malfoy? Yes? I believe she's in with Madame Pomfrey. I'll let her know you would like to see her."
Dumbledore and Snape walked to the door. Dumbledore hurried out but Snape turned to look at Draco one last time. The two men gazed at each other, both seeming to understand one another in some way. Then Snape nodded and hurried from the room.