A/n: This chapter is dedicated to Daisie ()

It's not Ron, not Voldi, not Lucius who I already mentioned in the earlier chappie was DEAD..do you not READ my story???lol

It's…*drumroll*

Read and find out..

 
 
 
Keep Me A Secret

 
 
 
 
Trying not to feel you but

 
 
You just brushed by

 
 
And if you dare to cross that line, you know

 
 
My toes will step on fire

 
 
Mmmmm sizzle when it's face on face

 
 
And skin on skin

 
 
And I'm tryin to keep you out

 
 
And I'm trying to keep me in

 
 


 
 
One hundred million eyes behind these walls

 
 
Watching you, hearing you, knowing you

 
 


 
 
Keep me a secret

 
 
Keep me out your arms

 
 
Keep my kisses off your lipstick

 
 
Stop me swallowing your charms

 
 


 
 
Keep yourself a secret

 
 
Lock up all your doors

 
 
I'll keep you out of my dreams

 
 
And just you keep me out of yours

 
 


 
 
I'm needing not to notice you, But you grabbed my eye. 
And don't let embraces linger, Try to keep our arms untied. 
See, there you go again, You're making me mad.
Cause I'm drawn to this danger, Always making me mad! 

 
 


 
 
One hundred million reasons to ignore,
 Wanting to be with you, 
One hundred million eyes behind these walls, 
Watching you, hearing you, knowing you. 

 
 


 
 
Keep me a secret

 
 
Keep me out your arms

 
 
Keep my kisses off your lipstick

 
 
Stop me swallowing your charms

 
 


 
 
Keep yourself a secret

 
 
Lock up all your doors

 
 
I'll keep you out of my dreams

 
 
And just you keep me out of yours

 
 


 
 
All I'm asking

 
 
Is for nothing

 
 
And if nothing is enough for you

 
 
Leave it unsaid

 
 
Keep me inside your head

 
 
Under your breath

 
 


 
 
Keep me a secret

 
 
Keep me out your arms

 
 
Keep my kisses off your lipstick

 
 
Stop me swallowing your charms

 
 


 
 
Keep yourself a secret

 
 
Lock up all your doors

 
 
I'll keep you out of my dreams

 
 
And just you keep me out of yours

- Ainsley Henderson

*                          *                                 *

Before he could ask her if she missed them because she looked slightly sad at the thought of them, a loud noise startled them. They stared at each other, in fear and shock. A professor caught with a student was one thing. A Weasley in the company of a Malfoy was a whole other matter.

A large, tall figure stepped out from the shadows. Ginny stared up in horror when she realized who it was.

"Eh- herm," Hagrid cleared his throat, looking pointedly down at the very pale and obviously frightened Ginny before shifting his gaze towards Malfoy whose face was expressionless - practiced nonchalance masking his real pure fear that only Ginny seemed to feel radiating off him.

"It was my fault."

His words and that he had spoken up despite his fear of being caught and the consequences he might have to face - possible expulsion from Hogwarts and losing his only source of income, was a pleasant surprise to the two other parties present.

At hearing this, Hagrid, drew back, startled. Malfoy was standing tall and taking the blame for whatever Hagrid had assumed this was - and he was not assuming the worst.

Ginny gaped at Malfoy.

"Yeh ain't up ter n' good as far as I c'n see," he nodded and walked off, to continue his game-keeping duties.

Ginny stared in even more surprise, as she realized what Hagrid has just done. The night seemed to holding all sorts of surprises for her. The full impact of Hagrid's actions finally sunk in for Draco because his face broke into a rock-melting smile of relief.

"Better get going before he comes back and decides to turn us in," Draco echoed her thoughts.

"Hagrid's not so bad eh?" Draco asked, as they approached the castle. Ginny nodded, smiling.

"He trusts us," she said simply, smiling at him before walking off.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Dumbledore came for breakfast that day - something uncommon, since he liked having his breakfast in his room with his chamber music. He had come down this morning to ensure that his gamekeeper had not gone temporarily insane from spending his days with all those flubberworms and blast-ended skrewts. Or was actually talking sense this time.

As the old professor ate, he watched the youngest Weasley enter the Hall with her two friends. They sat at the Gryffindor table and proceeded to eat and talk. Ginny only seemed to answer the questions posed to her by the Ravenclaw, Miss. Lovegood. Other than that, she simply ate her food, seemingly lost in her own world.

Dumbledore also noticed his Potions Professor step into the hall - his face bright, and a bounce in his step that had never been there before. He noted with a hint of pride that what Hogwarts could not do to Draco as a student it had done to him now that he was a teacher.

This was what Dumbledore had hoped for when he had hired Draco. It seemed that he was not disappointed.

However, this was new twist that he had not bargained for, and he prided himself on knowing a lot more about human relations that Miss. Lovegood did.  Though it was a fact that she was no charlatan either.

He watched with bated breath as Professor Malfoy walked by the Gryffindor table. A smile quirked the ends of Dumbeldore's lips as Draco paused to greet Miss. Weasley, drawing stares from students at the other table.

"Oh dear," Dumebledore murmured to himself, not liking the curious stares Ginny and Draco were getting from the other students. He rose, but not before informing Minerva to tell Draco to come to his office.

*                                                           *                                                                  *

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" Draco asked as he stepped into Dumbledore's office.

The man himself was seated at his desk, his chin leaning on his long slender fingers. 'Piano fingers' Draco always thought of them. Dumbledore nodded, motioning for him to sit down.

"Is it my mother?" Draco asked, worry lines creasing his forehead, as he took his seat. Dumbledore shook his head, smiling reassuringly.

"Draco, you've come a long way," Dumebledore began, his clear blue eyes piercing right through Draco's soul. "And I am aware that you long for certain things that you did not have before.  This being said, you should know that I grant you my approval," he smiled at the young man, knowingly.

Draco was not surprised that Dumbledore knew. There was almost nothing that he did not know. Draco was not going to go the way of tetchy defensiveness either. There was little use in attempting to deny something that was true.

"But what this school approves of is, different." Dumbledore said as he grew solemn, causing Draco to do so as well.  "Walls have ears, Draco.  And if other people find out - others who are not as open minded - all parties concerned will get hurt," Dumbledore said, looking pointedly at him.

Draco nodded, with full understanding.

"Don't be so obvious," Dumbledore advised.

"Don't worry, Sir, I ensure you that this will go nothing beyond a friendship as far as I am a Professor in this school and she, a student," Draco stated, his revolve as firm as steel.

Dumbledore nodded sadly.  "Don't make promises you can't keep."

Draco stood up, "Don't worry Professor. I don't really deserve her - not even as friend. She's too good for me."

Dumbledore watched him leave, a sad smile playing across his lips. Draco cared for her. There was little doubt about that.

*                                                                 *                                                               *

Draco was walking down the corridor just as the classroom door at the end burst open and seventh year Gryffindors came streaming out, all talking at the top of their voices about the fascinatingly impressive display by the Aurors.

He spotted Ginny, her red hair standing out among the rest. He slowed down trying to catch her eye subtly without anyone else noticing. He had to speak to her, alone.  He need not have worried.

Her eyes instinctively wandered over to the tall, good-looking, blonde man strolling down the classroom. He nodded towards an empty classroom by the side, slipping inside it.

Ginny wondered what could be so urgent that he needed to speak to her now. Curiosity aroused, she told Colin that she would meet him at their next talk.

She darted through the crowd and walked into the classroom to find Malfoy straddling the edge of one of the desks, his boots grazing the ground, his expression thoughtful. He looked up at her footstep.

"Virginia."

Her breath caught in her throat. It was the first time he had called her by her first name and he made it sound so beautiful and romantic as well. She wished he would say it again but his next words completely snapped her out of her romantic reverie.

"I think we should stop meeting at night and-"

"Why?" She asked, aghast and not bothering to conceal it. He felt a prickle of hope. Perhaps she felt more than pity for him. This was the wrong time for such thoughts though.

"It's not safe. Last night, Hagrid found us. Who knows who else will-"

"But we're not doing anything wrong." She insisted, despair edging her voice.

Draco shook his head,"The hour itself we're meeting is awkward." He pointed out.

"You're not allowed out after hours y'know." He reminded, mildly bemused, knowing that she had broken that rule so many times she barely remembered that it existed.

She seemed to realize that she had been defeated. She tried not to look so dejected, not wanting to show Draco how she really felt about him. He obviously did not feel the same way about her, having been able to approach her tell her that they should stop meeting each other – an action that required a certain degree of heartlessness and detachment.

That was exactly what she told Luna later, when they were up at the Astronomy Tower having one of their 'women only' sessions.

Luna had scoffed at her immediately.

"Ginny, Ginny," she shook her head, bemused by her friend's ignorance. "He loves you, Gin, have you never seen the way he looks at you?" Luna asked.

Ginny blushed, unable to prevent her lips from curving up into a smile of pleasure,

 "You're crazy, Lu." That was the only comeback she could think of. 

Luna simply shrugged.

Their graduation was round the corner - if Ginny did not see Draco now, when would she ever get to see him again?

That was the exact question Draco was pondering about, as he sat at his desk, lost in thought. The wind began to blow through his open window.  It did not bring the smell of the forbidden forest or the icy freshness of the lake.

Instead it brought the alluring vanilla scent of someone he knew well and the touch of a kiss, a kiss that came from not so far away, slowly, slowly, until it rested on his lips.

Draco smiled.

A few minutes previously as Ginny had stood up to leave the astronomy tower; she had felt the wind around her, seemingly whispering his name. Impulsively, she had blown him a kiss before turning around to leave.

It seemed that when one followed their heart's desire or their destiny, the whole universe conspired in helping them achieve it.

*                                                                           *                                                              *

Their N.E.W.T  results came back. They had all done well, Luna and Ginny topping DADA. Luna had rushed off to share the good news with Professor Paulo. Ginny had topped charms but not Potions.

Colin had topped Muggle Studies. (Luna, in an attempt to downplay his good results, had said that was expected since he was of muggle origin) But the biggest and funniest surprise of it all – Colin had fallen back onto the floor when he had found out while Luna and Ginny had started laughing in disbelief – Colin had topped transfiguration.

Colin, a dark horse, had beaten Jake who normally topped transfiguration. The three of then laughed even harder at the sight of him moping to his Ravenclaw girlfriend, some girl whom according to Luna nobody liked for she was the resident bitch.

"How did you do?"

Ginny started at the familiar voice she had been subconsciously longing for the past few days. She spun around to face Draco smiling down at her.

He seemed to be addressing his question to both Colin and her, like any other concerned Professor but his eyes were only on Ginny. She nodded, smiling happily, handing him her results slip. He smiled proudly at her excellent grades.

"You could become an Auror with those grades." He commented. Ginny blushed.

"I'm applying for a job at the Daily Prophet actually." Draco nodded. It was expected. She loved writing more than anything else.

After congratulating Colin on his unexpected transfiguration grade which -  Draco informed them, his eyes alight with mirth -  had nearly sent McGonagall into a cardiac arrest, Draco left. Ginny watched him walk off, her heart tap dancing in her chest.

*                                                             *                                                                     *

Ginny was looking for her two best friends as she wandered along the corridor. She slipped her pocket calendar out from her… and counted the days until graduation for the tenth time that day.

She could not help herself; this was by far the most exciting event in her life. Well, besides her most likely never- to-be-held wedding. Who would want to marry her?

For some reason, her memory flashed back to her dream last night, and she cringed. She could not believe her subconscious was thinking in "that way" about Draco Malfoy!

Then again, what else could explain why her heart started beating as fast a snitch every time he walked by, or even smiled at her, (Note: NOT SMIRK) or greeted her as a Professor greeted a student.

Ginny was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not feel the hairs on the nape of her neck stand up, from the prickling sensation of being watched.

Giving up all hope in finding her two friends, Ginny realized that she was near the Room of Requirement.

Perfect, she thought to herself. She would like to just lie down for a short nap. She never got to sleep at night anymore what with roaming around the castle with Colin and Luna, spending time at their favorite spots, even meeting Dumbledore on a midnight stroll once, and visiting Hagrid in the dead of the night.

Hagrid's reception for Ginny was anything but cool. The only difference was his emphasis on 'how are you' when talking to her.

The door materialized, Ginny opened it, stepping inside to find Malfoy seated at huge oak desk in the middle of the room, lined with wall-to-wall shelves of books.

On the floor, were cushions strewn about. For her own nap Ginny mused wryly, attempting to distract herself from the not so noble thoughts she was having about her Potions Professor.

He was seated comfortably in his chair, his athletic frame stretched out languorously, reading a book.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps. His face was at first startled, and then melted into a smile, something she would never have thought possible of him a year ago.

That's what love does. Oh No, where did that thought come from?

 "What brings you here?" He asked, placing the book he had been reading on the table, marking the page he had stopped at.

"For a nap," She yawned before she could stop herself, and Draco smirked, amused.

 "Well, don't let me stop you, go ahead." He gestured towards the cushions on the floor.

 She rolled her eyes, smiling nonetheless. As she walked by his desk, she stopped, for reasons she did not know, and turned towards him.

"What book is that?" She asked.

"The Alchemist," He picked up the book and handed it to her, for further inspection.

She browsed through it, intrigued.

"Could you lend it to me when you're done?" She asked.

He nodded before looking up at her again. "But when I'm done with it, you won't be here anymore."

She could barely hear him, as he seemed to be muttering to himself. He did not look crestfallen at the idea of her not being there, but more pensive about it.

"Oh well," was all she could say as she turned to walk away.

She had not taken one step further before his hand flashed out to manacle her wrist, jerking her to a halt, an utterly impulsive gesture sprouting from the simple desire of wanting her.

She turned towards him, astonished, her skin burning from his touch.

Sharp, clear silver eyes met stunned brown ones.

It seemed as if time froze for an interminable moment. Everything around her seemed to slow down, the crackling of the fire in the fireplace, the ticking of the clock on the wall.

All she could see was his silver eyes, looking so strange filled with emotions so great it was almost akin to love. She drew in her breath sharply, realizing the truth of Luna's words.

He really did feel for her.

Perhaps it had started out as sheer gratitude for being open minded enough to give him a chance and help him, combined with an inborn subconscious admiration for her spunk and outspokenness. That was besides the point at the moment.

He did genuinely have feelings for her.

As he grew as a person himself, and learned more about himself and his strengths, he had grown to admire people with the good qualities that he himself lacked and hoped to cultivate - the exact people that in the past he would have rather drunk ten galleons of skele-grow than be associated with.

And she had watched him transform right before her eyes, from an insecure, defensive young man to a still vulnerable, but fundamentally good person whom she had become attracted towards.

He seemed to be pulling her towards him and she barely resisted. Soon she was standing right in front of him as he sat in his chair, looking up at her, the cold blank mask of a face that he had in the past gone, only to be replaced with one of aristocratic yet good natured handsomeness.

"Draco.."

It was as if that was all he had needed to hear from those lips, lips that he thought of kissing a lot more times than he had been aware of.

She made his name sound as if it was sacred, holy and much more.

He pulled her down, his fingers clasped around her wrist, tugging her hand down towards him, simultaneously cupping his other hand around her head, bringing her face down to his. She did not resist, having wanted this almost as much as he did.

His eyes were so close to hers she could see the pure white and green flecks in the gray.

Their lips touched, tender. The moment slowed down, and she drank it in. The brush of his lips, the slight stubble of day growth as it grazed her and the sound of the kiss. 

She had kissed many boys but this, this was phenomenal. That was the only way to describe it. This kiss surpassed all others.

He kept his fingers anchored and knotted in her flaming hair as he kissed her, moving his other hand up her arm. His kiss was tantalizingly slow, just like how he wanted this moment to be.

 He wanted to freeze this in time forever. He had never known a single kiss could be so intoxicating. Somebody once told him that kissing someone you loved for the very first time was destiny knocking and now he believed it.

He could not think nor stop himself if he wanted to. She tasted so fresh and sweet at the same time, her lips melded so perfectly with his – it felt so extremely right. She was practically on his lap and it looked as if nothing would or could stop them from relieving all that pent up desire and longing.

It seemed, at least to Ginny, that all this while she had been dead, starved from the taste of Draco, the intoxicating smell that was his, his uncannily gentle touch and kisses – and now she was finally alive, burning with life. He heated her to the tip of her toes from the way his tongue parted her lips gently, like she was more fragile than glass and it felt as if this heat would go on for a long time, even after the sun itself had burnt out.

However, all good things eventually have to come to an end.

The sound of sardonic clapping filled the air.

Ginny broke away first, her chest was rising and falling sharply, breathless, her pulse going a mile per minute.

She turned and gasped, this time not from breathlessness but from shock.

She took a big step away from Draco, her eyes wide like a deer caught in brightly glaring headlights.

Draco stood up abruptly, realizing the seriousness of the situation immediately, and the need to react very calmly. A well-developed instinct of self-preservation took over as he felt Ginny's fear and panic wafting off her in sharp waves.

He kept his eyes, however, on the boy across the room standing in the corner, an incriminating camera hanging around his neck as he smirked at the both of them, a smirk that could rival Draco's own.

"Hamilton, what are you doing?" Draco spoke, his voice filled with commanding authority.

Ginny felt a rush of pride at Draco's calm and composure, she loved him even more now for not running away like a coward but standing up to face the consequences of his action, well their actions actually.

 "I should be asking you that, Professor." Jake commented, his voice dripping with sarcasm and a tinge of pure vengeance.

"So this is why you dumped me right, Ginny?" He turned on Ginny, his eyes shining with malice.

Ginny took a step back from him, unconsciously towards Draco who ached to put his arm around her and reassure her but he knew that any further physical contact would only worsen the situation.

Ginny was too shocked by the unexpected chain of events to even comment.

 "To get it on with your professor and supposed mortal enemy? I guess the forbidden fruit tastes better, eh? And I thought you were smart! Ha!" Jake ranted, glaring at the both of them.

"You have no evidence as to what happened." Ginny stated, the tremble in her voice evident but contrasting sharply with the determined set of her delicate jaw.

Jake laughed, horrible mirthless laughter echoing off the walls. He slipped the camera from around his neck. "What do you think this is, you brainless whore?!"

A wave of futile rage swept over Draco as he clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into the palms of his hands to control the unbridled fury he felt at the insult being thrown Ginny's way.

He had to calm himself. He needed to distract the boy. He hoped Ginny would keep him talking.

"You thought I would leave you alone? After dumping me like that? ME? Jake Hamilton?!" He paced in front of them, throwing his hands in the air, for dramatic effect.

 "Accio Camera!"

Jake spun around, as he realized what Draco was doing but it was too late.

The camera was whizzing out of his hands into the Professor's.

Ginny's face broke into a relieved grin but the grin vanished when she realized that Draco was still looking as stern and cold as ever, like an unreachable iceberg.

"It's your word against mine, Hamilton, now that I have the evidence, so I suggest you keep your mouth shut."

With that Draco swept out of the room, leaving a fuming Jake and a confusedly dejected Ginny behind.

*                                                             *                                                                          *

A/n: I like the rib thing too..it's so not clichéd..that's why I like it..and im not even Christian you know..since it has biblical references..

Yeah, I havent even figured out how to end this story cos it's become such a part of me..it has evolved with me..though it's not my first fanfic…it has gone on the longest..

I want to leave you hanging so that you will review more and make my fanfic author ego happy.

Ginny in denial is ALL part of the process.. but it might be Draco who's actually in denial..Who knows..Issues abound in the next few chapters..

My date was not as great as I expected but it was nice..in a way..i mean we went to this art gallery, talked a lot, walked a lot..almost like Ginny and Draco and sitting by the lake and talking about anything and everything..oh well..seems like my own love life is as meanderingly slow as Ginny and Draco's…at least they're snogging now.. FINALLY!!!!!!!!

Personally I dun think this guy is for me..at least not at this age..i want someone exciting, funny and as crazy as I am – I have someone in mind already but damn he's soo won't see me in that way..sigh..he's a pretty boy as well..has these gorgeous eyes..sigh..should stop gushing about my own love life..

Forgive moi for grammatical errors what with lack of beta readers..thanks to Kat and Shauna who did the first part of this chappie…

Anyway any guesses on what will happen to Ginny and Dracie next??? Any suggestions on how I should end this love story?? Any feedback? Any special requests?

Sneakie Peekie:

She slipped back into her seat, joining her two friends. The smug look on her face said it all.

"What happened?" Luna queried, wondering what her friend had done. Even Colin felt the tiniest bit sorry for Malfoy seeing the wicked, yet amused, expression on Ginny's face.

Ginny shrugged, smiling as Malfoy walked by, purposely not looking at their table. Revenge was utterly sweet, she decided.

FANFIC AUTHOR'S EGO NEEDS SOME EXPANSION SO PLEASE REVIEW BABES, MATES AND DUDES….ANIMALS ALSO CAN REVIEW..