J.K. Rowling and Warner Brother's own it all.

Author's Note and Review Responses to follow

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Chapter 17

Liane approached the carriages, seething with anger and worry for her friend.  She wasn't really worried for Ginny's safety.  Malfoy wouldn't dare kidnap and harm her, leaving so many witnesses.  Yet, Ginny didn't need whatever emotional turmoil this experience was sure to cause.  She put on a strong front, insisting that she didn't want Malfoy any more, but Liane knew that however unconventional their relationship was, Ginny missed it.

Stepping into the carriage, Liane peered blankly out of the window at the gray sky above Hogsmeade; her skin tingling from the cold air teamed with her un-vented fury.  As she felt the carriages weight shift, signaling the entrance of another person, Liane turned, anger rising as she caught site of the intruder.  "Gwey iidiat," she yelled, slipping into the patois she had heard as a child, as George Weasley prepared to sit across from her.

"I told you, you're not the only one that cares about Gin, Liane.  I'm going with you," George stated calmly, turning to look out the opposite window.

"Y-y-you can't, only students," Liane started, flustered by George's presumption that his company would be welcomed.

"I've sent word to Professor McGonagall to expect my arrival.  I am quite sure that she will agree to see me," George spoke in such an even tone that Liane was amazed that this was indeed one of twins known for mayhem and mischief.

Defeated, Liane turned back to the window, her shoulder's falling as her fury subsided and made way for sorrow, a single tear falling down her brown cheek.

"Fancy a Canary Cream," George inquired hesitantly of his sister's friend.

"A wah di bloodclaat do yuh," Liane snapped turning to face George.

"Errrrr," George started, oblivious to what the girl had just said.

"What the fuck is wrong with you," Liane translated.

"Ease up, I just thought that we could both do with a good laugh," George replied defensively, noticing the stain that Liane's tear had left on her cheek.  "Don't cry.  Malfoy may be a lot of things, but he's not stupid.  He won't do anything to Ginny, there were too many witnesses."

"I know that," Liane spat.  "And I'm not crying!"

George stood to move to the seat next to the girl.  "Then what's that," he asked, using the back of his hand to brush her cheek s he sat next to her.

"It's nothing," she replied tersely, turning her head back to the window.

"Oh come off it," George replied, moving close to Liane and putting his arm around her shoulder.  "You have before you one of the best older brother's in the business," he started with the air of a used broomstick salesman, "duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: recognizing anguish; causing torment and aforementioned anguish; lending shoulder's to cry on; and breaking the necks of any and all ex-, current, and potential boyfriends.

"In that case," Liane chuckled, allowing a hesitant smile to form at her lips.

"Ah yes, boy trouble," George replied as if he were a medi-wizard making a diagnosis.

***

Ginny sat down next to Draco and looked at him quizzically.  "You could try Draco," she stated simply, reflecting on his proclamation, 'my feelings for you could never be conveyed with mere words'.

Draco turned his head to look into Ginny's eyes.  Ginny could feel the fluttering in the pit of her stomach as she observed the torn look on his face and his hand rising towards her face.  "All I know, is I cherish the time that we spend together," Draco stated, leaning in to kiss her softly.

Ginny could feel her heart melting as Draco's lips met hers.  The crust that had formed over her heart since Draco had wounded her in the Room of Require appeared to have vanquished, replaced by a warming sensation that spread throughout her body.

As Ginny returned Draco's kiss anxiously, embracing him in her arms, allowing him to pull her to lie on top of him; her voice of reason pulled her back into reality.  As Ginny kissed Draco, memories of the situation that had led to her kidnapping flooded her mind, causing her to pull away from him suddenly.

Draco sat back up and looked at Ginny, "what is it," he asked, raising his hand to move the hair hanging in her face as she looked down behind her ear.

Shrugging away from his touch, Ginny replied, "I can't do this.  I can't just pretend that everything is okay because you're acting as if you care."

"Ginny, I was not raised to wear my heart on my sleeve.  I am not one to convey my emotions verbally."

"So I see," Ginny replied flatly.

"You can't possibly question my intentions. We have been meeting for over a month Ginny.  Never once have I pressured you.  I accepted your kisses and your hugs; the affection that you were able to offer; and I was more than satisfied."

"But I wasn't Draco.  I wasn't," Ginny replied.

"What is it that you want from me, Gin?  I have already given you more of myself than even I realized I had to give."

"I don't want anything from you, Malfoy.  You brought me here against my will, remember," Ginny replied coldly.

"Ginny," Draco stated softly, "I needed you to understand why."

"All I understand, Draco Malfoy," Ginny replied her voice lowered yet biting with every word, "is that you are a bloody coward."

"Because I don't want to further complicate our lives," Draco asked.

"Because you are unwilling to actively pursue your own happiness if it doesn't fit in with your father's plans; despite knowing deep down that he is wrong."

Malfoy chuckled, amusement in his eyes. "You have me confused with Potter."

"I didn't say you were a hero or an angel.  You're a prat Malfoy, I'm not stupid.  But this whole Voldemort thing; you know it's wrong."

"And I've told you before, you're black and white perception of this world is too simplistic," he replied; his voice indicating that the discussion was closed.

Ginny and Draco sat in silence.  Arguing with Draco regarding his support of Voldemort appeared to be pointless.  Despite his evasive conversation regarding his feelings about the wizard, Ginny knew that the absence of his defense of the wizard was indicative that he did not blindly follow the Dark Lord.  Just as Ginny's searched for a segue to interrupt the silence that had overcome the two, Draco spoke, "No, I didn't mean the things I said in the Room of Requirement."

"I know you didn't," Ginny replied softly.  Before effectively weighing the pros and cons of receiving Draco back into her life, Ginny found herself speaking, "Well shall we give it a go again?"

Draco looked at Ginny, his eyes showing the confliction he felt as he considered her request.  "I meant it Ginny, we shouldn't do this.  It won't work."

"It definitely won't if we don't even try."

Hesitantly, speaking aloud as he considered the possibility, Draco replied, "We have to make sure that my father never finds out.  It's probably better that no one knows," knowing that he would concede his position as the words left his lips.

Ginny kissed him enthusiastically, as a girl who's been offered marriage by her suitor.  Somewhere, rationale told her that the secrecy did not suit her; would not be enough after a while.  But, all she acknowledged at that moment was the warmth she felt as Draco returned her kiss and pulled him into her arms.

****

In the weeks that led up to the Halloween Feast, Ginny and Draco met often in the Room of Requirement.  They had agreed that until they had a good understanding of what was going on, they would keep their new found relationship a secret. 

Ginny continued to serve detention with Draco, her month's punishment to end the week following the Feast.  In the time leading up to the celebration, Ginny and Draco had no problem keeping up pretenses.  Ginny continued to make preparations for the feast during her scheduled detentions.  The two did not have any classes together, and didn't cross paths except for at meals and their after hours rendezvous.

"I trust that I will not be embarrassed tonight at the feast Weasley," Draco asked the morning of the Halloween Feast.

Ron's face, began to color as he swallowed a mouthful of eggs, "Sod off Malfoy!  She doesn't have to answer to you."

"Oh but she does Weasel, your sister and I have a date tonight before the feast," Draco drawled, a smirk upon his lips as he observed the anger in Ron's face.  "Isn't that correct Weaslette," he finished turning his eyes upon Ginny.

Trying to contain the flush that she felt building up inside of her, Ginny fixed a smirk to rival that of Draco's on her mouth, "Oh yes, Malfoy.  I dreamt of nothing but, last night," she spoke, covering the truth in her words with the tone of sarcasm.

"Then you'll be pleased to know that I have a surprise for you," Draco retorted, his words saturated with venom as he narrowed his eyes and leaned in towards Ginny.

"As anxious as I'm sure she is to find out, Malfoy, the terms of Ginny's detention do not include losing her appetite due to your presence," Hermione interjected, standing to confront Draco.

"What's the matter mudblood," Draco started, oblivious to the cringe that showed on Ginny's face at the use of the word.  "Jealous?  If you don't hold your tongue, I'm sure that I can convince Snape to have you join us this evening," Draco sneered, his eyes fixed intently on Hermione.

"Let's get one thing straight Ferret, I might have to put up with you as a result of the ridiculous detention," Ginny interjected, her eyes laden with genuine malice, "But I will *not* tolerate you insulting my friends," she continued before standing to turn her back abruptly on Draco and storm out of the Great Hall.

***

Ginny strolled around the Lake, feeling numb as a result of both the cold and the morning's events. 

She had been so pre-occupied with thoughts of the events at breakfast that Ginny failed to make a single notation during her History of Magic lesson with Professor Binns.  Her potions lesson had been an absolute disaster in that she managed to leave out a key ingredient to her Weep Away Draught.  After Snape had given her a weeping potion in order to test her draught, Ginny simply sobbed louder.  Refusing to give her the correct draught, stating that 'the effects should wear off within the hour', Ginny was forced to attend her next class, crying hysterically. 'As if Divination isn't depressing enough,' she thought.

Ginny suffered through the rest of the day, her mind trying to reconcile the different personas Draco Malfoy seemed to wear.  On the one hand, there was Draco.  Draco she met in the Room of Requirement at least twice weekly.  Unassuming and caring; passionate and sensual; Draco allowed her to feel as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world when they were alone in that room.  On the other hand, there was Malfoy.  Malfoy was the one that was cruel and menacing; manipulating and arrogant; Malfoy with his sharp tongue could undoubtedly infuriate and frustrate the Son of God himself.

As Ginny sat on the side of the Lake that was furthest from the castle and picked up some stones to throw, she rehearsed what she wanted to say to Malfoy in her aloud.

'Draco Malfoy!   I know that you don't like my brother or his friends, and that's fine.  You can even continue having this ridiculous belief that you are better than Hermione and other muggle born's simply because you were born to two wizarding parents for all that I care.  What I will not tolerate is you disrespecting and insulting my friends!'

"Perhaps you should come in from the cold Weasley, I think that your brain might be frostbitten," Draco drawled, strolling over to where Ginny was sitting.

"What are you doing here?"

"I believe that you have a detention to serve, and while I know that you have become accustomed to our daily meetings, I had assumed that you would be rather happy to have your afternoon's back," he replied, offering a hand to Ginny.

"Leave me alone, Malfoy.  You can't honestly expect me to simply bat my eyelashes and wait for your kiss after the horrible way you treated Hermione this morning?"

"Accio mirror," Draco called waving his wand.  As the mirror came to him and he gazed at his reflection, Draco called out his features, "Devilishly handsome, blonde hair, gray eyes, irresistible smile, yes that's me alright, Draco Malfoy!  You do realize that I was no worse or less to any of your little Gryffindor friends than I have been since we arrived at Hogwarts 6 years ago?"

"Be that as it may, you were horrible then, but we were not involved.  I can't be involved with someone who makes a sport out of insulting my friends."

"How's this; good morning Ron, how are you today mate; Harry, your hair is looking roguishly dashing this morning; and Hermione, I must say you are looking lovely today."

"Don't be ridiculous Draco, I don't expect you to be best friends with them."

"It's good to know that you haven't completely lost your mind.  You do realize that we agreed not to act any differently.  Passing the Golden Trio, without throwing insults is not just different; it's living in an alternate universe."

"But do you have to use such names, that word is so filthy."

"Ahh, so you're upset by my pet name for Granger," Draco asked, his face relaxing in comprehension.

"It's a filthy word, in no way likened to a pet name."

"So, if I agree not to use that word anymore, will you join me in the Slytherin dorms for your detention?"

"Did you just ask me out Draco Malfoy," Ginny asked flirtatiously.

"That, would depend entirely upon your answer," Draco responded.

Ginny thought for a moment, before allowing a grin to spread across her face, "I might join you in your dormitory, although I reserve the right to leave if your surprise is not to my liking."

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Author's Note:  So I felt really bad that I wasn't going to update even though I had finished the chapter, and so this comes to you without the benefit of my wonderful beta.  Maybe I'm not meant to have one, I'm so impatient.

If the story seems like it's picking up a little bit, I guess that it kind of is, I don't want to draw the story out too much just for an excuse to put more Ginny and Draco action in there, but I do want to hit the major points.  I couldn't tell you how much longer this first installment is going to take.  Everytime I write a chapter, I think going in that I will get a lot further than I do, I can say that I feel that we are headed to the resolution for this story.  So thanks for sticking with me this far, I hope you stay til the end.

And now, to my reviewers:

AznDreamer802: as always, thanks for the review, and here's your update!

ForbiddenMaggiks: Well, the shortest chapter was about 900 some words I think, this one, without all the extra comments was about 2300 I believe, so they're getting longer, really, they are!  Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and again, thanks for the favor Glorie!

i-loved-this-chapter: You know how to make me happy :)  It is not my intention to show sappy, lovey dovey Draco.  Although I will say, I think that love and lust can cause one to come out of character a bit.  But I am working to keep Malfoy distinctly Malfoy!

Wellwouldntyouliketoknow:  Glad you're enjoying the story.  And glad to hear you think the characters are staying in character.  As far as Liane and George, who knows.  Okay so I do, but I'll never tell

Zeldagrl436:  yes, they are away from the world, Draco has her now to where she can't run and wants to… wait, this is the update, you read what he wanted :)  I hope that you are a little less confused now!

Dracomio:  I sent you an email, don't know if you got it.  If not hit me up, AOL Name and email are in my author's profile!  I'm glad you liked the strawberry, and the scene between Draco and Ginny

Potterluvva:  Draco, sweet, ick.  Sorry, hehehe glad you seemed to like it, but I prefer to think of him more as debonaire, or charming, not quite sweet.  I think he knows how to act to get what he wants.  Right now, he wants Ginny, so he's doing the right things.  I don't know that I really think that's the essence of his personality though.  But there I go rambling about Draco isn't some lovey dovey nice guy.  Yadda yadda, okay, will shut up now.  Thanks for the review :)

Shanna: hehehe I like essays :)  Unless I have to turn them in, then I distinctly avoid them at all costs.  Anyways, wow you blushed.  And I was sitting here wondering if I could lower the rating.  I think the worse that has happened is there was mention of Colin stroking Blaise, and Ginny stripped for Draco.  But that incident wasn't really sexual, it was more to prove a point for her.  Anyways, I worked really hard to make this chapter long as well, so you owe me another long review *wink*  Thanks for making me smile!  I really enjoyed receiving your review!  *hugz*

Andrea: wow a new reader, hehehehe, that's so cool.  Glad you found me.  Glad you liked it, and glad your anxious to read more.  I'm anxious to hear what you all think of this chapter, so be sure to check back with me!

RomanceFaerie16: You know what, that's how it was writing it.  At first I was like okay, when is detention, present, past or future.  It was really confusing, but it just started to flow after a while.  I'm really glad that you like it, and that you are able to follow it okay!  I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter!

SarkLover:  hehehehe, open mouth, take out foot.  I won't hold it against you.  Honestly, other than this one great out of character move of posting a fic, I'm a lurker by nature.  I might love your story, but have a hard time clicking that button at the bottom of the page, so I forgive you.  Oh yeah, my personal failings are no excuse for anyone to fail to review this fic :)  But I've gotten better since I've started writing, because I see how truly inspiring reading reviews can be!  Oh yeah, I'm glad that you enjoyed the pictures.  I wanted to kind of show that Draco wasn't born the jerk that he is, without having him narrate his childhood or anything, hopefully the pictures did the tri!  Oh yeah, I'm glad that you enjoyed the pictures.  I wanted to kind of show that Draco wasn't born the jerk that he is, without having him narrate his childhood or anything, hopefully the pictures did the trick!