Disclaimer: They be not mine lads, they be not mine.

Chapter 15:

Another day without Draco was rolling slowly by for Ginny, as had the others. Since his abrupt departure from the house that night she had heard nothing from him. Gotten no letters, no words, no visits… at all.

She told herself he was busy, tired or even that he just forgot, but there was that constant voice telling her that he just didn't care.

"He just doesn't care."

She sighed, closing the front door and returning inside, "Harry, for the last time…"

"He's not going to write you know, I don't get why you keep waiting for it."

She placed her hands on her hips, "And why not?"

"Because-"

"Oh I know, because 'he just doesn't care'."

He nodded, drawing closer to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. He's a Malfoy, and they don't care about anything." Lightly he stroked her cheek, "He doesn't deserve you."

Closing her eyes against the smoothness of his touch she uttered these words, "I think you've got him mistaken for you."

And that was when she chose to leave speechless Harry standing alone in the middle of the living room, but his words walked with her, and in her mind were thoughts swirling round, all of them revolving around 'He just doesn't care'.

XX

He checked the clock on the wall: 2:45 am. His eyes burnt and began to water, his lids felt too heavy for even himself. He passed his hands over his face and looked down at what had been his enemy for the past four days:

A piece of parchment and a quill.

Rubbing the hair stubble on his chin he began to read again for what seemed the hundredth time that night. Words stood out against the blurry image that was the paper: 'Miss you' 'Thought about you again' 'Realised how much you mean to me…'.

He wavered his quill over the blank section that was left for his closing and he stopped.

This was what had happened to him every night since he arrived.

He had filled the letters with thoughts and seemingly meaningful words, written pages upon pages of what he hadn't dared to say aloud, or recognised that he felt, and then he couldn't decide how to close it. So, he did the same thing he had don't with the others, and that letter became the latest addition to the growing pile next to his bed.

But he had vowed to finally finish a letter for her that night, so he took a fresh piece of parchment and dipped his quill in the remaining few drops of ink and started again. The last sentence he wrote was what had governed his dreams for the night, and what swam through his sleep:

It's almost like I need you to be happy.

A truth he had never come to terms with, and probably never would… consciously.

XX

His slumber was broken by the repeated knocking on his door. Grumbling he got up and checked the time: 7am. He had gotten only about three hours of sleep, and he was definitely not a morning person. Needless to say he was not in a very good mood.

Unfortunately for him that statement didn't stand for Christina.

"Good morning," she smiled brightly, matching her bright orange short dress.

"Don't talk to me, it's annoying," he said closing his door.

Resting her elbow on the doorframe and placing her hands on the door she succeeded in stopping it from shutting.

"I can't not talk to you right now. I need something."

"I need you to go away."

"Will you ever change?"

"Go away."

"Be serious."

"I am."

"Draco," she whined.

He sighed, "Make it quick, I'm sleepy."

"Okay," she began, "I need you to… come shopping with me."

"Are you crazy?"

"We always used to go shopping before, and it'll be fun. It's only two days to Christmas Draco, and I have nothing new to wear and I need new-"

Slamming the door in her face he walked back to his bed and tried to continue his sleep.

Try being the operative word.

Ten minutes later there was another knock.

"Go the hell away," he said his voice stern and tense.

"Is that how you speak to your mother?"

He opened the door. "Mother I would really appreciate it if you came back a little later."

"No, if you're going to Diagon Alley you need to get an early start."

"No problem then, because I'm not going to Diagon Alley."

"Draco, since you've been here you've done nothing but lock yourself up in that room. Look at you, you look miserable. You hair isn't even combed. You'd think you were love sick or something of the sort."

Having his mother carry on about his possible love sickness and its possible causative agents was, by far, worse than a couple of hours of torture at Christina's hands. Normally, he would embrace it, sending her winks and sly smiles at certain names, and humming tunes instead of answers, indulging her interest even more. But this time, it seemed, she had hit a little too close to home for comfort.

"If I go with her will you drop it?"

"If you go with her I will drop it," she nodded.

"Good. Give me some time to get ready."

XX

"What do you think of this one Draco?" she said holding up a black low-cut silk top.

"It's fine," he said absent-mindedly, his eyes on the street outside.

"Well, do you want me to try it on?"

He looked at his watch, "Do you have to?"

"How else would I know if it fits well?" she asked her patience thinning with every second.

He stretched his neck at the sight of red hair whizzing past him on the street.

"Draco!" she yelled impatiently, drawing to them the attention of everyone in the boutique.

"Yes."

"You're not paying attention."

"The top fits fine."

"I haven't even tried it!"

"Well then try it."

She sighed in frustration, "That's what I've been trying to ask!"

"Then why didn't you?"

"You know what? I need some coffee. Come on."

Once again they were inside the walls of The Three Broomsticks having something to drink, he with his soda (Ginny had gotten him addicted) and she with her black coffee. He had, for the first time realised how many red heads there actually were in the Wizarding World. Every time he caught a glimpse of red hair through peripheral vision he would turn his head this way and that only to be disappointed that it wasn't who he thought it was. In the end he thanked God she didn't have black hair, or he wouldn't have gotten a moment's peace.

"Draco," she began after a moment of silence.

"Hmm?"

" I need to discuss something with you."

"What is it?"

"Listen, I love your mother and all, but you have to understand she's not my mother."

"I know that Chris."

"No, you don't. Because so far you've been in the Manor for five days and I've had to be doing all the snooping, all the questioning, all the detective work by myself."

"What? I don't know where you got that from."

But, of course, he did. Since the moment he arrived he had kissed his mother on the cheek, briefly and sulkily answered her questions about his vacation so far, made no inquiry into hers, and marched straight up to his room. He hadn't seen the outside of his room since that day, he slept, wrote and moped about, wishing, to his surprise, that he were back at the Burrow, with her. Meals were delivered to his room, and set before it. When he was hungry, which didn't seem to be a lot lately, he would collect it and have a bite. The only conversation he had was if his mother or Christina chose to check up on him, but still he kept it to mono-syllables if he could help it, and did nothing to prolong it.

He couldn't help the foul mood he was in, his life was suddenly lacking, and with all the riches and money he had available at the manor it couldn't be filled.

"I've just not been in the mood."

"Really? Well, I don't exactly like lying to her but I do it."

He sighed, "I'm sorry, you're right."

"Right about what?"

He smirked as he heard the familiar tone, "Brock, long time no see."

"Indeed." The tall, lean, brown haired boy took a seat next to Draco. "I must admit, I'm surprised to see you here, wasting time."

"What makes you think I'm wasting it?"

"Well, while you're here, Weasley-"

"Ginny."

He chuckled, "Ginny is at home all alone."

"Oh she's not alone, she's with her parents, and Potter and Weasel, the Weasel twins, and her two other brothers Bill and Charlie all of whom I have already met."

"How is that possible?"


"Use your head Brock. I'm no fool and I don't expect you to be. I was with her."

"And still," he said pulling out his scion, "Nothing happened."

"Yet."

"By now."

"It will happen, I know her."

"Oh you do, do you? Well tell me then, because I'm mighty curious, how does Ginny, like flowers and chocolates?"

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "Why do you want to know?"

He shrugged, "Why don't you use your head, Draco."

XX

It felt like her boredom would soon suffocate her if she didn't find an activity to keep her afloat. Books didn't seem interesting, her chores were all completed and she had checked on the doorstep five times that day until she finally realised that Draco indeed, was not going to write. She lay on the sofa defeated noticing the odd patterns the cracks on her roof made. There was not a single soul in the house, or so she thought.

Her mind registered the sound of footsteps distant through all her thinking. Lazily she sat up to see Harry before her looking solemn and quiet.

"Sorry to bother you, Ginny, I was just looking for Ron."

"Sorry Harry, Ron went out with Charlie. You okay? You seem a bit down."

"Oh no, I'm alright. I'm just a little bit bored I suppose, I brought out the Wizard's Chess Board in case he was up for a game."

"I know how that is, I'm bored myself."

"Still haven't gotten a letter?"

"Is it that easy to tell?"

He laughed quietly, "Kind of."

She laughed.

"Hey, would you like to play? Since you're not doing anything and all…"

"Oh, sorry Harry I can't."

"Oh…" he looked down at the floor, "It's okay, if you don't want to…"

He was so miserable, the poor boy, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "It's not that. I just… I can't play really well."

"I don't mind teaching you," he said hopefully.

She smiled, "Sure Harry, I'd love to play."

XX

The two sat quietly chatting one afternoon about this and that, spending the time they would have spent apart bored, together and occupied. Then there was a thump on the door.

Harry immediately got up, being on the edge of the sofa with Ginny on the inner end.

"No Harry, it's okay, I'll get it."

"You think it's a letter?"

She shrugged, "I wouldn't bet on it."

But she still hoped it was. After having waited that long she still hoped that he hadn't forgotten her in the least, and that a letter would arrive eventually.

What she saw was one of the greatest surprises she had ever had.

Dozens of red roses lay sprawled on the front step accompanied by just as many heart shaped boxes of chocolate, and in the middle of it all lay the cutest white owl, holding a card in its beak.

Gently taking the note from the creature's beak she read:

My love,

There aren't enough roses on this earth to adorn you with, no number of jewels numerous enough to crown you with, no number of sweets as sweet as your love, no man on earth worthy of your love, except for the one who will love you with all his heart, shower you with all he has to give and know that he will never be worthy of you. Give me that chance.

Ginny, will you be mine?

Love

Harry

"Oh Harry it's beautiful!" she yelled from the door.

"Wha?" he called back, joining her at the door with an equally surprised look. "Er…"

"I read the card," she smiled.

"Really? Er… what did it say, exactly?"

She read it happily to him, her cheeks growing warm with every word.

Still a little confused he smiled shyly. "And what answer are you giving me?"

XX

He was forced to join Christina into the town again, or else face the wrath of his mother's love-sick accusations.

Carrying bags upon bags of purchases he finally saw what he had been longing for.

He saw her face.

She walked side by side with Potter her curls flinging in the wind, her nose red with the cold. Busy in conversation she didn't notice him, but he had noticed her long before. And the smile on his face since then was growing with every step.

"Draco? Draco? Are you listening to me?" Christina asked after noting that he hadn't said anything to her in a long time.

She looked up and saw the red-headed Weasley and her famous friend. "Oh…" she said with comprehension. "I get it."

"Ginny," he called when he was within a few steps of her. He pulled her into a tight hug, not wanting to let her go, "How are you?"

"Draco," she said smiling lightly, a bit reluctant at first but just as unwilling to let go of him as he of her. "I've been pretty good, a bit bored lately, you know."

"I'm happy to see you."

That was when Potter cleared his throat.

"Oh, I am too, Draco. But Harry and I can't stay, we have some errands to get to. I wish we could though, but we really have to go."

"Oh," he said glancing from her to Potter, "Oh, okay, yeah we have some errands to complete ourselves."

"When are you coming home?" she asked.

"Soon I hope. I miss… everything."

"We miss you too," she smiled lightly.

With that Potter let out a cough.

"Anyway, bye. I'll see you soon, bye Christina." Holding Harry's hand she made her way past the two.

"Busy?" Harry asked. "So Busy that he has time to go shopping."

"Let's not talk about it Harry. I really don't even want to think about that right now."

XX

He began packing his bags that night, eager to get back to the Burrow. The sound of Ginny's flat voice, with no emotion, neither joy or happiness was all he could think of. The picture of her leading Potter away with her hand in his, haunted his thoughts. He couldn't stand to be away from her at that moment. He wanted to go back, and find out just what was going on.

It was on the eve of Christmas that he found the best opportunity to leave, having discussed everything with Christina as to what should be done about his mother, and having lectured his mother about keeping her cool and using her head and not her heart. He knocked on the Weasley's front door anticipation pumping through his blood, waiting to see her face.

But he was greeted by Fleur instead.

"Draco!" she squealed, then as if catching herself she dropped her voice to a lower pitch. 'Draco, you cannot come in, he knows Draco, he knows."

"Fleur I really don't have time for this. I came all this way in the cold and I need to see Ginny. Where is she?"

She stretched out her arms, blocking the doorway. "No you most certainly cannot!"

"Fleur, I need to see Ginny."

"No Cheri! I will not let you!"

"Fleur!" he yelled back. "What is wrong with you?!"

"Oh C'est horrible, c'est horrible. Tu mourra, tu mourra!"

"Stop overreacting nothing will happen to me, now let me get inside!"

"No, je ne le veux pas! Jamais Jamais!"

"Fleur!" he yelled.

"Oh mon Cheri, je suis desolee, tres desolee, j'ai tort! Ecoute-moi, Draco, je ne le lui ai pas dit! Tu comprends?"

"Fleur, who is it?"

"Personne," she called back to the voice from inside.

He frowned in confusion at Fleur's hysterical state.

"Look Fleur, I don't have time for this. I need Ginny."

'Fleur!" Came another yell from inside. It was then Bill's head appeared behind her through the door.

Smiling Draco greeted him, "Evening Bill, I guess I'm back, Ginny's inside, right?"

But he didn't receive a smile in return. "Oh so it's you is it, Malfoy."

Turning Fleur put a hand on his chest, "Calme-toi, cheri."

"Inside Fleur."

"But…"

"Oh, I see. You'd want to stay here and listen to me have a chat with Mr Malfoy here, would you? Well be my guest."

He cast an uncertain eye from Fleur to Bill and then back again. Clearing his throat he began, "Anyway, as I was saying, I'd really like to speak to Ginny…"

"Oh, are you sure it's not Fleur?"

"Why would it be Fleur?" he began slowly. "Look, I've wasted enough time-"

"You know what's really interesting Malfoy?"

"Draco," he corrected. "No, I don't know."

Bill chuckled, "I'll tell you. What's really interesting is that all this time you and Fleur have been fooling around right under my nose and I never noticed."

He looked at Fleur, "Under your nose? You must be mistaken."

"I don't think so. See, I saw you and her together on the sofa, she always resting her shoulder on your arm, always eager to be next to you. But you said you only knew her through Twizard Tournament-"

"I did," he interrupted.

"See, that would make sense. Except I found her diary. It was very interesting, let me tell you. All the descriptions."

"Look. I'm telling you, it was a long time ago, and-"

"Did you or did you not have sex with my girlfriend, Draco Malfoy."

His mouth shut in surprise at the question.

"I thought so. And what were you planning on doing in this house with her?"

He opened his mouth in an attempt to deliver an answer but could come up with nothing that would make the situation better.

"I don't want you in this house, I don't want you near my girlfriend. And most of all, I don't want your filthy hands anywhere near my sister."

Anger rose within him at the thought of this Weasley ever preventing him from seeing Ginny. "I don't think Ginny and I are any of your business."

"Well you thought wrong."

"Why don't we let Ginny decide?" His silver eyes narrowed and blazed in fury.

"I'm deciding right here and now."

Draco took a step towards the door.

"Don't you step into this house, Malfoy."

"It's not your house." He took another step closer only to have Bill hit him squarely on the jaw, knocking him backwards, the last thing he heard was Fleur's screaming before he hit the ground, unconscious.

The next voice he heard was Ginny's, tender and loving, as she stroked his silver blonde hair away from his face. He shivered from the cold as the chill from the snow below him sunk in.

"I told you to be careful," she joked. "You and your girlfriends," her expression sobered.

On instinct he licked his lips, tasting the bitter flavour of blood. He lightly passed his finger over his lips and looked at them. It was bleeding.

"Yeah, he got you good," she said.

"Bastard," he muttered trying to get up. Finally on his feet he took a step back with dizziness.

"You okay?"

"Hardly."

"Why'd you come back? I thought you'd forgotten about us."

"I missed… you… all," he cleared his throat. "But apparently the feeling wasn't mutual.

She laughed, staring at him entranced by his image finally in front of her, after all of that longing.

That was the time Potter came up behind her, "Is Malfoy leaving?"

"I was trying to talk to Ginny in private Potter."

"And I gave you time Malfoy, but I think it's time I had a got my girlfriend back."

"Your what?"

"You heard me. My girlfriend. So I think you should-"

"Er… Draco, Harry's telling the truth," Ginny interrupted. "He asked me… and I thought, you know, it's not such a bad idea, and you never called or wrote, or anything, and-"

"Oh," He said as his face fell, his eyes seemed to darken before her. He cleared his throat, "I suppose Potter's right then. Hand me my bag."

It was then that he realised:

He was a pile of letters to late.

=XX=

Hmm… *prepares self for 'I hate you'' s from reviewers*

Mandy : I am shocked! Shocked I say! *applauds Amanda*

Serina: Yeh, thanks a lot for the review. I will explain it all in due time.

Anne7809 : Hmm… I'm sorry, I have no idea how to fix that. I hope you figure it out though. Thanks for the review.

Draco Fan : lol. I know how that's like. Thanks for reviewing.

Kat Davi: lmao. Thanks. I'm glad to see you so…er… into the story.

Ma.Fer: Yeh, I will explain the whole thing more than it is in this chapter. But I'm waiting for that moment.

Moi: lol… It's always worth a try. Thanks for the review, I hope you liked the chapter…

Bella: Oh did you? It's always nice to see reviewers stick with me from there. What was your S/N?

gypsybaby21: Thanks, I hope you don't hate me for the chapter… my beta reader does (lol). Thanks for reviewing.

Ginny23 : Thanks for the compliment. I really appreciate it.

ie-chipmonk: I suppose the chapters will get longer as the story gets deeper. This one was actually shorter than the rest, lol.

feLtOnZluVr: Lol… yeh, a lot of people were waiting for the smut. All in due time I suppose. Just stick with me.

Dracomio : Whoah thanks!

Jac : Hmm… well you've figured me out ahead of time, lol. Good going.

Abby: Cool thanks. I hope you got to the end of the story (well, what's posted so far).

Dabalittlelove : hey dude, thanks a lot. I will try to get some time to read your stories. I think I'll get on it right now. I'm home sick from school. It sucks, I have the fever and the cold.

cucho cousins: Hey! Thanks. I appreciate it. I hope you don't mind this chap much.

xxDiamondxx: I hope you got my email about who Chris is. It's one of the disadvantages of being a late updater, readers forget stuff. Lol Ah well…

LiL' LiSe: Oh believe me, I know that's a problem. I try to update quicker I honestly do, lol.. I just never seem to.

Coolchicka: Wow thanks for the compliment. I do hope you stick with me till the end.

Kaydera: Thanks lots. I appreciate it. I hope you don't hate this chapter, lol… It might stir some anger…

Yup. That's it. Hope to hear from you all when chapter 16 is posted…. Hopefully soon.