Draco stared at her for a long time. She had grown considerably. She was no longer a girl, but a woman, and a beautiful one at that. He sighed, and jumped down from the window sill and landed silently down in front of her. She didn't wake from her fitful sleep, but she did stir. Draco gently lifted Ginny's sleeve, to discover no blood, and no new wounds.. He smiled. Ginny woke from the touch, a small gasp escaping her throat.

"You're getting better." He whispered before she could say anything. She stared at him, her brilliant green eyes glinting in the pale light of the bathroom.

"Where did you go for so long?" She whispered, questioning his absence. He sighed.

"Taking care of things." He said guardedly. Gina cocked her head to one side in question and he sighed, leaning back against the wall of the stall.

"My mother…killed my father. I had to…attend…his…funeral…and make sure my mother was free of blame."

"Is she?"

Draco nodded.

"Most people don't care, theyre just glad to be rid of him. My father wasn't a very liked man." He grinned.

"But…why would she kill her husband…she's supposed to love him…"Ginny said, her brow furrowing.

Draco let out a soft laugh.

"My mother never loved my father. Their marriage was arranged by their parents when they were very young. The only thing she ever liked about my father was the fact that he gave her me." He grinned.

"She's had a lover ever since I was very young."

"Who?" Ginny asked incredulously. Draco's grin widened

"Lupin."

Ginny's mouth opened in surprise, and she let out a small laugh. Draco felt a pang of…something…in his chest when he heard her laugh. His face colored in happiness. Ginny sighed happily and curled up next to Draco, putting her head in his lap. He was suddenly taken with the desire to run his fingers through her hair. He quickly clasped his hands behind his head. Ginny sense Draco's tension and momentarily questioned its source. An uncomfortable silence ensued.

"Draco…" she began, but bit her lip, wondering wether or not to go on. "Do you miss being in school?"

He thought for a few minutes, and then answered.

"I miss the food. And the slytherins. Aside from you and Hagrid, I havent had human contact in almost two years."

"Hagrid?" She raised a brow. Draco nodded slowly.

"Like you and Snape. I had detention with him a lot the year before I was expelled . Somehow we…got over our differences and became remarkably close. He is, in fact, the only reason I haven't starved."

She nodded. After a few moments her brow furrowed again.

"Why did you stay here? Does Dumbledore not know?"

"Oh, he knows I'm still here. But he hasn't done anything to get me to leave because he knows why I haven't" She looked at him. "To avoid becoming a death eater." He answered. "To get out of the shadow of my damnable father."

Ginny sighed, and her eyes began to droop. A few minutes passed and she drifted to sleep. Draco watched her. Before he could stop himself he stroked his hand across her cheek. A strange feeling surged inside of him, but he chose to ignore it. Rising, he gently scooped Ginny's inatimate form into his arms, and began to walk towards the dungeons. Using a secret passage that led to his room, he slipped into slytherin unnoticed.

Supporting Ginny's weight with one arm, he pulled back the covers with the other. He lay Ginny down and covered her with the blankets, and placing a chaste kiss on her forehead, he turned to leave. Something caught his wrist. He turned to see Ginny weakly holding on to his arm.

"Don't go Draco…" She whispered "I don't want anymore nightmares."

He could have broken her grip easily, and left as he should have, but for a reason he wasn't yet ready to admit, he stayed. Slipping off his boots and his heavy cloak, he climbed into bed next to her. The girl sighed, once again feeling safe. Draco, listening to Ginny's breathing, slowly felt himself drifting toward sleep.

When Ginny was sure that Draco was asleep, she turned over and looked at him, studying his features in the soft light of the few candles that were lit. He looked troubled, his brow creased even when he was unconscious. She snuggled up to him for warmth, and smiled as he put his arm around her in his sleep.

Draco's smile mirrored Ginny's. He had woken when she had snuggled up to him. His heart had given a strange jolt when she smiled as he put his arms around her.

Draco had never felt so close to a girl before. Of course, he had had his fair share of girls spend the night in his bed, but he'd never felt this content having another human being nestled with him, trusting him in their weakest time. And they hadn't even…

Draco quickly changed his thoughts, praying Ginny wouldn't wake to feel the activity down there. Despite himself, he grinned, his eyelids once again beginning to droop.