SLIDE

Could you whisper in my ear

The things you wanna feelI'll give you anything

To feel it coming

Do you wake up on your own

And wonder where you are

You live with all your faults

I wanna wake up where you are

I won't say anything at all

So why don't you slide

Yeah were gonna let it slide

Don't you love the life you killed

The priest is on the phone

Your father hit the wall

Your ma disowned you

Don't supposed I'll ever know

What it means to be a man

Something I can't changeI'll live around it

I wanna wake up where you are

I won't say anything at all

So why don't you slide

And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

Little pieces of the nothing that fall

Oh mayPut your arms around me

What you feel is what you are

And what you are is beautiful

Oh May

Do you wanna get married or run away

And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

Little pieces of the nothing that fall

Oh may

Put your arms around me

What you feel is what you are

And what you are is beautiful

- Goo Goo Dolls


Ginny hugged her eldest brother one last time and clung to him a bit more than the rest.

Bill's eyes, lined with concern, met Ginny's own as he pulled away from her embrace. "What is it, Gin?"

She shook her head, her lips curved up into a painful smile, her eyes downcast. If it had been any of her other brothers', they would have mistaken this melancholy due to leaving Hogwarts.

Not Bill though, Bill the brother she had been closest to since she was born, the brother who had helped her overcome the nightmares of her second year. Bill saw that something was troubling her.

She could not tell him however, not with the rest of the family milling about in the hallway, waiting for them. They were going to return to The Burrow, having been in full attendance for the Graduation Dinner. Fleur had left earlier, having some sort of family dinner of her own. Ginny would return tomorrow on the Hogwarts Express.

"Tell me." His grip on her arms tightened slightly, as urgency filled his voice.

Bill felt it in his soul, no place else, felt mean certainty drive through him that something was amiss. He followed Ginny's gaze and his eyes landed on Ron. Ron, feeling the intense gazes of both his siblings by the prickling of the hair on the back of his neck, glanced at them.

Bill saw the way his eyes locked with Ginny's, a foreboding wariness there. Something was going on and his name was not Williams Weasley if he did not find out.

"Goodnight Bill…thanks for coming." She kissed him on the cheek, in a bid to reassure him.

"You're my sister. Why would I not come?" He chided her, affectionately patting her head.

He only wanted her to be happy – that being his lifelong mission towards Ginny, a vow made the moment his mother had placed her as an infant in his arms.

She grinned, walking out with them to the Grand Entrance, bidding them goodbye as they walked off onto the grounds, with the other departing families, into the night.

She turned back and walked into the castle, the weariness of having to put up a farce of being utterly joyful and happy draining her to the very core. She felt incredibly sad that she was unable to share with her family the cause for her inner bliss.

There was only one thing that could provide the relieving balm to her exhaustions. She wished she could summon him towards her.

She walked down the stairs leading to the dungeons, hoping to see him and at least steal a few moments before going back up to the Gryffindor tower.


"Ron."

Ron, who had been involved in a heavy discussion with Harry about Chudley Cannon's probability of winning their next match, glanced back at his brother.

Bill had been walking right behind him, by himself. He nodded towards Ron, indicating for him to walk beside him as they made their way to Hogsmead.

Ron had a vague idea that this had something to do with Ginny. As he fell into step with his eldest brother, he felt undeniably wary – where he was overprotective of Ginny, Bill was plain selfless when it came to his sister.

The rest of the family barely noticed, absorbed with Fred and George's antics right in front of the group.

"Yeah?"

Bill did not believe in beating around the bush. Keeping his eyes on the path ahead, "What's up with Ginny?" He asked.

Before Ron could even process the question in his mind, "The truth, Ron." Bill added, sternly.

"Eh..wel.. I-I..She-she."

Bill let out an impatient grunt. "Get with it, will you." He urged.

Ron took a deep breath, "She's in love with Malfoy."

"Are you sure?" Bill asked immediately, without even thinking.

"Yes, I..I..I caught them..kissing."

Ron felt horrible to be the bearer of such news to his brother.

He did not even dare look at Bill's face. A heavy tainted silence hung between them as they continued walking, Mother admonishing at the twins as they walked into Hogsmead.

When he finally plucked the nerve to look up at Bill, after three minutes of uncharacteristic silence from him, he was relieved yet at the same time terrified.

Where he had expected to be anger, uncoiled fury - there was plain sorrow. What scared him however was what this might possible mean.

Bill was frowning, deep in thought, a strange sadness etched in every line of his face - so deeply that even his mother noticed it just before he stepped into the fireplace at the Three Broomsticks and flooed back to The Burrow. She promised herself to speak to him. She presumed that it had to do with seeing Ginny all grown up.


"Dra-" Her words were forgotten as she stepped into his room, his lips effectively sealing hers.

She felt him pin her against the door that she had just shut behind her. His hands cupped the back of her head as he kissed her with all the longing and passion of a man not having finished his task that morning.

A thrill sought through her, traveling from the ends of her toes and the top of her head, right down to the spot between her legs. His kisses were harshly desirous and she loved it. It was almost primal. His tongue sought hers with a numbing urgency, a giddy hunger.

She felt ready to do just about anything. This was what it felt like to be crazy Ginny guessed, kissing him back with unfermented passion. A low moan escaped her as his lips formed a fiery, hot, wet trail down to the base of her throat.

He pushed her dress robes easily off her shoulders and stopped suddenly, gazing in prideful admiration at the his engagement ring resting on the spot between her collarbones, just above her bosom, as if she were his, branded by that beautiful ring, its sapphire stone glistening in the light.

He leaned down, raw hunger to take further ownership of this beautiful woman, bursting in him. He ran his tongue along her rigidly delicate collarbones. She gripped the front of his robes, her fingers fisted around the fabric, trying to contain herself.

He moved back up her neck to nip at her lips suggestively, before devouring her again, tasting her, savoring every moment as if this was the last time. She did not protest and did not even struggle when he lifted her up in his arms to carry her to the bed.


"Bill."

Bill turned, at the foot of the steps, planning to head up to his bedroom and retire to bed. Everyone else had either gone home or gone to bed.

Besides, he had a long day tomorrow and he had to owl Fleur. Also, he needed to think a bit more regarding the latest revelation about Ginny.

His mother, however, took top priority at the moment, standing very imposingly by the stove.

"What is it, Mum?" He asked, patiently.

"Come have some hot chocolate with me, like the old days." Bill grinned.

How could he resist? During the days before Hogwarts, he used to always drink hot chocolate with Mum before going to bed. That used to be their time together, not even Dad was allowed to interrupt. It was a time when mother and son bonded.

He walked back towards the kitchen, slumping down into the nearest chair, spreading his long legs out under the table as Mum bustled around the kitchen.

"Here you go." She smiled widely at her firstborn son, setting down two mugs of steaming hot chocolate in front of them.

Bill took a tentative sip of his, smacking his lips in a gesture of appreciation.

A moment of peaceful silence filled the air between them. It was Bill who broke it, speaking up while staring up at the clock, staring fixedly at Ginny's hand on it, which was pointed to school.

"Do you think Gin'd make as a good a mother as you are?" His question startled and delighted his mother.

"Doubly good, if I dare say so myself. Why? Have you found someone you think she'd like?"

Bill looked towards his mother studying her, her face brimming with earnestness. Could she deal with it? He wondered. She was a strong woman, one who would not crack under pressure. This was different however.

"Perhaps." He replied cautiously, not wanting to raise her motherly hopes.

"I always thought Harry was perfect for her but between you and me, over the years I've come to realize that Harry doesn't cut it. Ginny's too strong for him – she's quite domineering some times y'know." His mother stated in a conspiratory tone.

"You boss Dad around." Bill rebutted, amused.

Molly clucked her tongue sharply, shaking her head somberly.

"That's different, Bill. Besides, he likes to be bossed around and told what to do." Bill stifled a snigger.

Trust his mother to come up with her own rules.

"You look strained." She mentioned gently.

Bill looked away from her, expelling a long deep breath before speaking. "It's just with the upcoming wedding and all."

Mum nodded understandingly. "Must be worse for Fleur."

Bill smiled wanly.

"I think I'd better get to bed, Mum." He stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor as he stood.

She smiled at him as he leaned down to hug her.

"Don't worry about Gin, Bill. She'll find her way." She murmured into his ear before he straightened up and considered his mother and her seemingly appropriate words.

With a nod, he strode towards the stairs, taking two steps at a time towards his bedroom.


She felt thrilled, tremulous after the event. Ginny was still trembling and quivering after he gently eased himself out of her.

The pain, oh, the pleasurable pain that had filled her entire being till she had floated away to some place where there was nothing, nobody, not even air except for Draco and herself.

She shifted slightly beneath him and he pulled away. But as he did so, he pulled her with him, nestling her within the comma that his body made, as one might cradle a child. She arranged herself to fit his larger embrace.

"Draco."

"Yes." Their voices were husky, post sexual rasp.

"Merlin. How extraordinary."

"It was wondrous, to become one in this way." Draco whispered throatily.

The room felt hushed and cool, silent as if in a mark of respect for their meeting of souls, bodies.

"It is a wonder with you." She whispered, "It is with you."

He grunted in agreement, burying his face in her hair. She smiled contentedly, as she listened to his breathing, before she fell asleep.


Bill sat up with a jolt, sometime in the wee dark hours of the morning. Something had woken him up.

"The ring." He muttered to himself out loud, in the still darkness of his old bedroom.

As if the memories that had settled in his subconscious mind from yesterday had risen to surface in his sleep, and one particular memory had nagged at him till he woke up.

A tiny detail that had escaped him then but not now.

The chain Ginny had been wearing around her neck .The one with the intricate sapphire ring hanging from it. It flashed in his mind as clear as day.

The chain swinging off from her neck, the ring so evident yet unnoticed for she must have tucked it into her robes later. She could not have bought it herself.

Malfoy.

Had to have been him but what did it mean? A promise ring? A farewell gift? A token of remembrance? An end to a forbidden romance? Merlin he hoped so.

Bill sighed wearily. He did not need this. He trusted Ginny but what was she thinking. He would have to talk to her.

Kicking the blankets away, Bill rose from the bed, brushing the lingering remnants of sleep away as he penned a note down.

A few minutes later, he sent it via the family owl to Ginny after muttering a silent Celtic prayer that he had been taught as a child, and barely used or believed in but desperate situations called for desperate measures.


She woke the next morning, her head resting in the crook of Draco's arm.

The morning sun made a hot oblong of light on the emerald covers. All around them was the soft cotton of over washed sheets – almost silky, almost black- and beyond the austere mahogany of the carved furnishings: the wardrobe, the bed, and the side tables.

There were male garments strewn upon a chair and on the floor cloth, which has been painted to resemble a rug. She looked up at the pattern on the sage tin ceiling. That was when Draco stirred beside her.

"Morning." He greeted, burying his face into her hair. She could feel him draw in his breath, take in her scent.

"Coffee…coffee laced with caramel." He stated, raising himself on his elbow, staring down at her.

"What?" She was bewildered.

"That's what you smell like." She blushed, glancing away from him.

He smirked; amazed by her ability to still blush with such quaint, pretty shyness after all that they had done last night.

It was then that the continuous pecking sound on his window registered in their minds.

"It's an owl." Draco muttered without even looking towards the window.

Ginny could see that it was a small owl, calmly packing against the window rhythmically

Reluctantly, Draco stood up from the bed, trailing his hand along the length of her arm, as though he could not physically bear to remove himself from her.

Ginny watched as he gracefully slid on his black silk boxers before walking towards the window and yanking it open.

The owl fluttered into the room, zooming around the ceiling a few times before landing in front of Ginny, on the bed with muffled 'thump', feathers fluttering everywhere.

Draco looked bemused. Ginny caught his eyes and grinned apologetically. Before he could tackle her and kiss her senseless, she untied the note from the owl's feet.

She recognized the Weasley family owl and was not surprised to see that the note was from Bill. It was the contents of the letter that sent her into panic – small clumps of wet sand drizzling down inside her chest.

Dear Gin,

I need to talk to you. When you return to The Burrow today, would it be all right for you to meet me at Cauldron's Inn for supper. It is urgent that I speak to you. I already told Mum I would like to see you before leaving for France. I will not be at home when you get back, but with Fluer so it is necessary that I meet you.

Don't fail me

Love

Bill

'What is it?" Draco saw the shade of white her face had turned.

She thrust the letter in his hand, speechless, the wheels in her head turning.

"So? He just wants to talk to you." He arched an eyebrow, confused.

"He makes it out to be some emergency of some sort." Ginny ran her fingers through her hair, making it even more voluminous and messy.

"It's probably nothing, Virginia." The use of her name, from his lips, soothed her temporarily as she rested her head against his shoulder as they sat up, leaning against the headboard of the bed.

But Ginny knew it was something. As Draco snaked one arm around her bare waist, pulling her towards him, she tucked the sheets under her arms and moved towards him, she could feel it in her blood.

A sudden mean certainty, a sense of things falling miserably into place.


Author's note:

IMPORTANT: I heard that Ginny is short for Ginerva and that it says so in JK Rowling's website. I was not aware of this when I started this story so I shall stick with Virginia. I don't really have a choice. Ginerva is a bit of a mouthful for Draco compared to Virginia, anyway.

I like the fact that I rendered you speechless with my previous chapter…

Glad you like the illusion charm..

I thought Draco should be a bit snarky – I like snarky guys..they turn me on..hehe

She said she loved him for the man he almost is, and the man that he wants to be because that is exactly who Draco is at the very present moment – so she loves him for who he is – he is almost a man, still a nineteen year old boy, he also desires to be better man for himself and for Ginny and she loves this about him..Got it???

Kill Ron? NEVER!!!!!! Poor Hermione would be in tears..and no kicking him in the crotch. That might render him infertile and that there won't be any little 'Hermione's and 'Ron's running around..

The illusion charm seemed unrealistic to you?? Come on, this is the world of magic – anything's possible.

I make Draco so hot, even I'm kinda nuts about him..haha

Hermione's reaction could be considered far fetched if you're not a clever witch at her – its all in the non verbal action and dear Hermione knew this..she does not like Malfoy but understands from the way he stood, his stance and his inability to pick a fight with Ron that he is a different person..

OF COURSE I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! and you reviews of course..who said love was unconditional??? Only Draco and Ginny's love have that unique quality..lol

It's his last night seeing her, cos she won't be in Hogwarts anymore – at least that's what they both think..

Hope this chapter was full-on..some say the previous chappie was rushed, some say not..who do I listen to..is this what they call mixed reviews??? Lol.

One thing – no one told me how the snog scene was!!! As a punishment, the lovemaking scene in this one will be omitted..kidding..just didn't feel like going into explicit details..

Btw, thought I'd like you to know about my progressing love life – I'm still head over heels for the jerk, he continues to intrigue me..but it seems to be fading away..i hope..remember the sweet guy I was talking about in the previous chappie – smart, intelligent, nice jaw etc – I used to check him out since last year but as you know only now, I have developed a full on infatuation for him..i mean, goodness, he is like my last hope at a love life..i am SICK of unrequited love..i am eighteen – it's about time I got my first kiss, first date with a guy I liked..and he seems quite friendly and he's sooo sweet..sigh..

Just thinking about him makes me smile..i wish I could marry him..i really do..i mean, he's so earnest, so handsome, so intelligent, so charming..and when he smiles at me, it's like my whole world lights up, like everything's perfect and fine even if I'm having my worst day ever…he has the best smile in the world…it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside..it's been a long time since I felt that way..i mean jerk guy just made feel hollow cos he could never return the feelings I feel for him or heart attackish when he got near me or text messaged me..

I could go on and on about sweet guy…I just wished he'd like me back and see me the way I see him..oh well..

A SNEAK PREVIEW:

"We have to talk." She stepped away from him. He looked at her curiously, having been imagining kisses, tender words and if he was lucky - making love even but she seemed to have other ideas.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ginny crossed her arms across her chest. Draco studied her for a minute, admiring the dark flashes in her brown eyes.

GIMME TILL 550 REVIEWS AND I WILL UPDATE THE NEXT CHAPPIE!!!!!!!!!! I love blackmail