Chapter 21

....... "But is it fair for me to ask her to be with me if it's going to be so hard, like the curse says?" Snape smiled down at his godson.

"I think you and Miss Weasley have some things to discuss." With that, he stood up and walked out of the office, leaving Draco alone with his thoughts. Draco thought for a moment; deciding he couldn't tell Ginny ... not yet at least.

Draco stood up started out of the office, but he noticed a small package on the table next to the door. It was wrapped in dark green wrapping paper with a silver ribbon tied around the middle. On the front was a silver card, on which was written "Draco". He looked around the office, shrugged, and picked up the parcel. Deciding to open it in his Dormitory, Draco headed straight there.

Slytherin Boys' Dormitory

Draco pulled off the ribbon and then unwrapped the parcel, to find something he really didn't expect. Inside was a picture, in an elaborate picture frame. The frame had the crests of the Slytherin House and the Gryffindor House intertwined in a strange yet beautiful way; it was a deep red color with silver threads running through it. His eyes widened as he saw the picture. It was Ginny and he; they were having a snowball fight on the Quidditch Pitch. He watched as she threw a few snowballs at him and he stepped forward, engulfing her in a huge hug. Ginny laughed and pulled away; with a mischievous grin, Draco picked up some snow and chucked it at her. Ginny ducked easily, but wasn't so lucky the next time he threw some. It hit her square on the back of her head; she whirled around and smirked at Draco. She broke into a run and jumped on his back as he turned and tried escape from her. They both collapsed into a snow pile, laughing hard. He leaned over and started to kiss her when the picture started over.

"Bloody hell," Draco whispered to no one in particular, as there was no one else in the room. He set the picture down on his bedside table and collapsed on his bed. Was he honestly going to be able to not tell her? Damn Severus for influencing my decision again!

The Room of Requirement

"Draco?" Ginny looked around the room; it was plain but comfortable. There was a couch in front of the large, roaring fireplace and a desk at the back of the room. The room was painted red with silver trim. She inhaled sharply as Draco dropped his Invisibility Cloak, revealing himself.

"I didn't think you'd come."

"You asked me to come so I came." Ginny shrugged and avoided his eyes. She sat down on the couch and Draco followed suit a few seconds later.

"I guess I have a lot to explain to you then." Ginny nodded slowly, still not looking at Draco. "The reason I'm reluctant to tell you what's going on is because if you know then ... he'll come after you. I can't justify putting you in danger because of my own selfishness. I don't want ... I could never bear it if he ... you know. I would never forgive myself." Ginny turned quickly and looked him straight in the eyes, an unreadable look on his face. She stood up and put her hands on her hips.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you listen to me. First of all, you need to stop being so negative; can't, don't, could never, would never, and on and on and on! Secondly, your father is not going to come after me! Besides the fact that I can protect myself just fine thank you, I've got you, Harry, and half the Ministry looking after me. In case you've forgotten, my Dad works at the Ministry. Any one of his children could be a target." Ginny took a deep breath and her features softened considerably, as did her voice. "Lastly, Draco, I love you. I don't care what's going to happen, all that matters is I love you and you love me. I would rather spend one day with you in the complete happiness that I feel when I'm with you, than an eternity without you. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Draco was silent for a moment, digesting everything Ginny had just said to him. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes, I do." In one swift movement, Draco stood up, wrapped his arms around Ginny, brought her lips to his, and slipped his tongue inside her mouth, exploring her mouth. That sentence was exactly what he needed to hear. Ginny moaned as her hands found their way to his hair. Draco sighed inwardly; he missed her so much. He really needed her right now, but he had been pushing her away. Ginny started to massage his neck as he deepened the kiss. He slipped his hands underneath her shirt and rubbed her back and sides. Draco gave Ginny a hurt look as she pulled out of the kiss. "I've missed you ... this you, the real you." She smiled as his fingers started to trace small circles on the small of her back.

"I'm sorry."

"Its okay, we all get confused sometimes. I know this is hard for you so ... take your time." Ginny pushed Draco back towards the couch and sat down on his lap after he had sat down. He kept his arms around her waist, enjoying the soft, warm feeling of her skin. He sighed and started to explain things. He told Ginny who Lucius had killed and what had been going on since then. That Narcissa was going back to live with him and how he was sure Lucius' proposed 'father-son time' was just another ploy to get him to become a Death Eater. He told Ginny about Lucius' deep involvement with Voldemort.

Ginny nodded, gasped, and said comforting and encouraging words at all the appropriate places. And when he got to the part about him suspecting Lucius was going to kill Narcissa soon, she held him while he cried.

The Quidditch Pitch

"I know this is kind of arbitrary, but I needed to get outside. No one's booked the pitch today, so I know we won't be interrupted." Ginny nodded silently and wrapped her arms around Draco's middle. They had spent a good three hours in the Room of Requirement talking. Draco told Ginny everything ... about his childhood, his family, Voldemort's presence in the Manor. Everything except the Erinys Amor Semper. He was worried that if he put that kind of pressure on her, she would love him because she had to, not because she really did. Now, they were sitting in the stands on the Quidditch Pitch.

"It's a nice night, but it's getting close to curfew you know." They had met in the Room of Requirement at 7; it was almost 10:30 now.

"I know ... but now that I've got you back here with me, I don't want to let you go." Ginny laughed.

"You make it sound like you're never going to see me again. We see each other every day, love." Draco sighed exasperatedly; seeing Ginny in class wasn't the same.

"Yeah ... but then I have to watch out for your brothers and ... well pretty much everyone else too. I can't wrap my arms around you and snog you senseless like I want to." Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled.

"You could ... but I think Ron would injure parts that would make you unable to have children, ever." Draco chuckled and kissed Ginny's forehead.

"I love you." Ginny tilted her head up to look at Draco, giving him a questioning look. Draco just smiled and shrugged.

"I love you, too." Draco leaned down and kissed her sweetly.

Malfoy Manor

"What do you mean 'he doesn't want to be a Death Eater'?!" Lucius stumbled over his words for a moment, searching for an answer, before his Lord interrupted him. "I didn't realize he had a choice in the matter, Lucius!"

"I am very sorry my lord."

"First you let yourself get caught by the Ministry and I have to bail you out. Now you can't even control your own bloody son?!" Lucius stared at the floor; he was kneeling at Voldemort's feet, begging for forgiveness. "Get up off your knees you idiot." Lucius did as he was told, but still avoided Voldemort's piercing eyes.

"Please, my lord."

"Stop your begging. For now, we cannot do anything about this; we haven't enough agents to safely complete the task. Because Pettigrew has all but blown his cover, I will be forced to send Bellatrix and her party to set things right with Draco. When all of this has finally calmed down, Sirius Black is back in Azkaban, and Pettigrew has re-secured his alias, we will send agents to ... help your son in this decision making process." Voldemort smiled a smile that would have sent shivers through a grown man's spine. "He will be mine, Lucius, you have nothing to worry about."

"Oh my god," Narcissa whispered; she was crouched outside the door of Lucius study, listening to the conversation between Voldemort and her husband. She feared for herself yes, but she feared so much more for her son. She knew it was only a matter of time before they would discover Draco's weakness.

A/N: Alrighty everyone! I know it seems like nothing much happened in this chapter, but it was really a limbo chapter. So excuse the lack of plot! Lots of big things are going to start happening in the next chapter. Remember that right now, it is late February/early March and their Easter Break is mid-March. For those of you who read my A/N's this should tell you a lot about the next chappie! Thanks always to my beta (even though she's in China, tear)! Please review! Almost to 150!

AnnaBeave: Haha, yes (godfather). I don't really see him as all that mean ... meh, maybe its just me! I'm sure this chapter with the making up and making out made you happy, then! Thanks so much, I read and reviewed, happy dance with me! So flattered, how was this one?

Luna Gypsy: LOL, yes, I am completely and totally obsessed with writing. This is going to scare you even more, but I'm writing 7 stories right now, while writing sporadic one-shots. Haha, I RP a lot, so I know what I'm going to write before I sit down at the computer. Thanks, how was this one?

Bigred20: Thanks so much, how was this?

Paintedsecrets: LOL, nice. OMG, I always forget to write the song in the disclaimer! Ahh! smacks the moose upside the head It was by the Beatles, "You'll Never Know How Much I Love You" (I think!). Yay! Blushes insanely and is extremely honored! Yay! You get 1,000,000 kudo points! (Haha, we're playing that for our next concert in band, so Captain Jack has temporarily moved into my head and continues to sing the song over and over and over again!) Haha, we're nearing the end of this one actually, don't be sad though! I hope this was okay ... even though there was like nothing that happened. Eep! LOL, yeah, French. I'm so glad I managed an A in that! Finally got report cards today! I don't know where I pulled that A out of (probably my arse, LOL). Not unique ... gifted! How was this?

Inukaino: OMG, I know! He's such an asshole! LOL, Lucius is probably the one person (besides Voldie) in this fic that really deserves to die. How was this?

HarryPotterFan670: Thanks! I know, my English teacher is trying to murder us! I wish it were Christmas because I'm going back to Chicago (where I'm originally from)! Yay! Me too! How was this?

MoonlightPrincess: LOL, nice. So here's the update, how'd you like it?

LilBre: LOL, the first two times I had a really awesome teacher, and the second time was just a review for my HS entrance exam. This time, my teacher can't really teach, but I remember so it's all good. LOL, so do the happy dance because he told her! Everything! How was this?

Hoppers: Yay! I'm glad you like it and won't flame me, however all flames will be used to toast marshmallows! Yes, he actually does have emotion! Do the happy dance everyone! Thanks so much, how was this?

Disclaimer: So here we are once again. And I find myself feeling the urge, once again, to say something. So, once again, I will tell you, that I do not own Harry Potter. And once again, I will do the happy dance in honor of the great JK Rowling. Who, once again, does own Harry Potter!