Author's Note: Okay, here it is, chapter 22. I was originally going to leave the story at that last chapter for a while, just to piss everyone off. But my guilty conscience (and ridiculous ego) made me think people actually like my story, so I'm putting up his chapter since I already wrote it. It's not that great, but I hope you like it. And to Angelgrl185; your review is greatly appreciated, since it actually fulfills that intended purpose of a review: provides the author with constructive criticism and advice on how to better their writing. I realize that I am no real writer, but I try, and I appreciate your help, as I do realize my descriptions are uniform and uninteresting. Next story, I'll work on it. THANKS!! Here we go...

Disclaimer: Um...really, I have no idea where this came from...it's not mine. Well, except for the little baggie labelled 'plot'. And the other one...'O.C.'s'. The rest belongs to...erm...eh...J...er...K...uh...Rowling! Yes, her.

Dancing Life

Chapter 21: Skye: Someone To Look Up To.

"Aaaahhh!" Ginny screamed in anguish, feeling several bones breaking in her chest. Behind her she heard an echoing scream that had to belong to Dean. Bludger must've hit him anyway.

Ginny struggled to stay on her broom, eyes shut tightly.

"Ginny!" she heard Draco's voice, worried and frightened coming closer. She felt his presence next to her before she heard him.

Ginny's arm was wrapped around her ribs, grimacing in the pain that threatened to overwhelm her. She had to get down to the ground before she passed out.

Suddenly, she felt a lancing, biting white pain strike her side as Draco touched her tentatively. "Aaaaagggghhhhhh!" she screamed, louder than she'd screamed the first time. Now the pain was severe and on-going.

She turned suddenly on her broom, managing to pry open her eyes. She loved to be around Draco and all, and yes, he was comforting, but she really just had to get down on firm land before she fell off her broom. Turning her broom nose down, she dove.

The ground was swimming as it came closer and closer to her. And then suddenly she was off her broom and face-down in the grass, not a good thing for her ribs, which were screaming angrily.

No one noticed her. Madame Hooch was carrying something or someone off the pitch in the corner of her line of foggy vision. The Gryffindors were all watching Hooch go and following at a close rate. The Slytherins were behind the Gryffindors, some still landing. She didn't see Draco, so he had to still be up in the air.

Ginny was able to get shakily to her feet, clutching at her ribs. She just had to get to the common room. Just get to the common room. Just…get…

She stumbled all the way back to the castle, pausing once to throw up her breakfast from the morning, which did nothing to ease the pain in her side. She finally staggered into the castle, just beyond the Great Hall.

Finally, she couldn't walk anymore. She fell in a heap at the foot of the stairs, so tires and exhausted from walking all the way back with either cracked or broken ribs. Breathing heavily, she sat for a few moments, drinking in air and willing herself to stand.

She finally managed to bring herself to her feet again, though it took several minutes.

Thirty minutes later, she stumbled, gasping, into the Gryffindor common room. Hermione and Ron were on her in a second.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"We were worried that something might have happened…"

"Where were you on the field?"

"Are you alright?"

Ginny shook her head as she collapsed onto the nearest armchair, hissing at the stinging pain in her side. Hermione latched onto this. "Ginny, what's wrong with your side?" She reached out a hand and touched Ginny's left rib. Immediately the younger girl bit her lip and let out a whimper, trying not to scream again.

Hermione's eyes widened and she reached down, pulling up Ginny's shirt.

"Oh, dear gods." She breathed, a hand coming up to cover her mouth in shock.

Ginny looked down and felt like she was going to be sick. Her entire left side in the shape of a large circle was a mass of purple and blue, destined to turn black and ugly. Ginny sucked in a breath with some difficulty; every breath that expanded her lungs bit into her side painfully.

Ron's eyes were large. "Gins, what happened?" He asked softly, eyes riveted on the purple bruise. Ginny laughed softly, but sobered up immediately…laughing was painful, too.

"Got in the way of a very urgent Bludger." She shrugged.

"Ginny, we've got to get you down to the hospital wing immediately. What if you broke something?"

Ginny nearly laughed at the Head Girl. More than just a little likely. She thought sardonically.

Instead, she just shook her head and stood, careful not to grimace or wince. "I'm fine, just a little tender. I'll patch myself up, and if it gets worse I'll go to Madame Pomfrey." She promised, heading off to her room.

She had some serious healing to do.

Draco was really pissed. Scared, anxious, nervous, and scared for Ginny…but nonetheless pissed. He was currently stomping around the deserted Slytherin common room in a fit while Blaise watched on slightly amused and ready to intervene if Draco looked ready to do some serious damage. Though he knew that this ranting and raving was good to get out of his system.

"Stupid effing…" he heard Draco mutter before slamming his foot into a stone wall. Which was also stupid. Blaise hid a grin as Draco came over to the armchair across from his and sunk down in it, muttering and rubbing his throbbing foot.

"Why the hell did she have to go dive in front of him?" He growled angrily, though Blaise knew better. Draco was mortified that he had in some way hurt Ginny, though he really hadn't meant to. He'd had to listen to Draco going on all day about it. It was evening now, and soon people would be coming back from supper. But not Ginny; she hadn't been in the dining hall, library, or hospital wing. Draco was worried about her, as he was taking it out on his surrounding furniture.

"She's brave, that one." Blaise muttered noncommittally. Like as not, Draco would go into some jealous spit that Ginny still had feelings for Dean. Blaise knew Ginny was just being a Gryffindor. Draco had been aiming for Dean's head after all. Who knows what might have happened if Ginny's hadn't blocked part of the blow? Of course, the Bludger had hit Dean anyways, but only in the chest, Ginny's side preventing it from hitting his head. Madame Hooch had been able to stop the falling boy in mid-air and get him to the hospital wing.

And now Draco was beating himself up for being such an idiot. He hadn't been able to catch up with Ginny, and in the confusion, had lost her altogether. He hadn't seen her since she had fallen onto the pitch and staggered wobbly away.

"You don't think she was trying to protect Thomas, do you?"

Blaise rolled his eyes. That was unexpected. He thought caustically.

"Yeah, she was. Apparently they're shag buddies or something. You should see the looks she gives him sometimes." Blaise said steadily as if reading a particularly boring essay.

Draco's silver eyes popped open. "What!" His jaw dropped as Blaise glanced up at him, rolling his deep blue eyes once again. "I'm kidding." He assured his friend. Draco settled back down, calming visibly.

"Draco, she's got eyes for you alone. Though I honestly don't know why, if you act like this all the time. I wouldn't hang around you, that's certain." He scoffed. "Just trust her, mate. After you apologize first, of course."

Draco nodded obediently. Though he'd never let him know, he knew Blaise was right. Damn him. The older blonde boy rose agitatedly and stalked around the common room, running shaking hands through his hair, tangling the usually flawless strands.

Blaise watched this for several moments. "Why don't you go talk to Skye?" He suggested when he finally couldn't take anymore of Draco's pacing.

One slim blonde eyebrow arched. "Why?"

Blaise shrugged. "Because you won't talk to me, I think you need to talk to a woman for this kind of thing, Ginny isn't in the hospital wing so you can't talk to her, and I want to go snog Heather." He said simply and without discomfort.

Draco snorted. "Fine. Take care you and Heather don't go too far, and if you do, keep it out of my room. Don't wait up." He left with a smart wave. Blaise waited for a moment before setting off himself, headed for his room to grab his broom.

Some minutes later Draco was knocking hesitantly on the door to the dance classroom. Ginny had once told him that Skye lived in her classroom, or something like that…besides, he didn't know where else to look.

"One moment please." Skye's voice came from behind the door.

And in about one minute, the door opened to reveal a very dusty-looking Skye. Her brilliant purple hair stood out against the rest of her dust-dulled appearance. "Oh! Draco." She exclaimed, realizing who it was and opening the door wider to let him in.

He quickly entered the classroom and started. Dust was settling in the corners and several small cat-looking creatures which Draco recalled as being called Kneazles were running about the room. Skye shrugged apologetically.

"Sorry about the mess. Jan found a litter of Kneazle kittens in the room where she's lodging at Hogsmeade and she sent them here. I've just had to clean up a bit." She smiled affectionately as one of the little brown kittens leapt up at a piece of dirt that was floating about over it's head.

Draco took this all in and stared uncomfortably around, not really sure what to say. Skye tactfully removed the uneasiness from the atmosphere.

"How is Ginny doing? I didn't see her down at the hospital wing when I went to get the kittens checked this afternoon." She gestured to a seat for Draco to sit down in, as he was currently shifting awkwardly from side to side.

He took the seat graciously, sinking down into it with all the grace and ease that Slytherins seemed to be born with. Skye on the other hand, flung herself animatedly into a bright yellow armchair that contrasted perfectly with her purple hair.

Draco arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. He was watching his young dance teacher with interest as she scooped up a tiny grey-ish colored Kneazle kitten and nuzzle its nose with hers. Draco was beginning to realize that Skye was very much the same kind of girl (young woman really) that Ginny was.

And suddenly, he didn't feel uncomfortable. He didn't worry about why he was talking to this strange witch at night instead of one of his own housemates. He could confide in her, he knew, and even ask her opinions or help or even her advice. He was feeling the pull- the magnetic attraction- that made so many people feel so comfortable in talking to the young witch.

Skye glanced up from the kitten to gaze interestedly and curiously at Draco. "Did you need to talk about something?" She asked inquisitively.

And for some reason unknown to him, Draco broke, and his story came out like water escaping a dam. He talked for many many minutes, telling the purple haired witch all about his life before he'd met Ginny-how his father and mother treated him, and how he'd left with Janet and Blaise, how he never talked to anyone except Blaise occasionally.

He told her how it had been such a surprise that he'd been attracted to Ginny at first in dance class, and an even bigger shock when she kissed him and left, laughing.

He outlined the months they'd spent together so far, how it was perfect and sheer bliss because it was her. When he was with her, nothing else mattered. He explained to Skye the ordeal with Dean, allowing a short period of time for the lively witch to furiously curse Dean Thomas many times in many different languages, using many words that Draco pretended not to hear.

After that was done, he explained what had happened in the game earlier in the game.

"I dunno. I was just so furious that I suppose I wasn't thinking straight…I would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. It killed me so much when she flew in front of that bloody coward. And to know that I hit her…when I c-care for her so much." He managed, nearly at loss for words.

Skye nodded understandingly, still petting her little kitten.

"You know that Ginny won't blame you, right?" She said suddenly.

Draco looked up. "How could she not? I saw her land…she was in real pain, and I don't even know where she is right now. I'm just scared that I've really fucked things up this time."

Skye glanced up at the ceiling, pretending she hadn't heard that. She moved her gaze back to Draco, holding back a grin she was sure he would not appreciate. It was so comical to see a Malfoy in such a tizzy over a girl he was in love with.

She herself had had the unfortunate chance to meet Malfoy Sr. and she honestly hadn't thought anyone with even a drop of his blood, however diluted, could love at all. Funny how wrong you could be sometimes…

She clicked her tongue and set her cat down on the ground, rising from the chair after having sat in it for nearly to hours. "I know a few things about Ginny, and if I'm not being too optimistic about my abilities, I believe I know a few things about you. Aside from that and the fact that you're here worried about her, it's not too difficult to see how much in love you two are. Even for a mature relationship." She gave him a good, long, hard glance.

"You're not just school kids sharing affection. Don't second-guess your feelings. You're two young adults who just happen to have found love before that time when most people do. Hold onto her, Draco. She's worth it…I promise you that."

Without another word she smiled, tipped her head and disappeared into her room, closing the door softly behind her. As Draco left the classroom, he heard strains of some unknown music playing, bright and lively, probably Muggle.

Shaking his head, he closed the heavy door behind him.

What a strange, strange woman…

"Fuck! That hurts!"

"Ginny…-language!"

"Sorry, just trying to put my effing ribs back in place!"

"Well either do it somewhere else or shut up about it!"

Ginny stuck her tongue out at Heather, who was sitting at the foot of her bed and went back to healing her ribs. The minute Heather had found out that Ginny was back, she'd come upstairs to see her. What she'd found was Ginny trying to heal herself completely by herself.

Not that she wasn't good at magic or anything, but fixing one's own internal injuries is quite advanced magic; magic that sixth years were only just diving into. After Ginny's blatant refusals to visit the hospital wing, Heather settled down to help Ginny heal herself.

Ginny began with mending her broken ribs. They counted three of them that were broken, and it took Ginny nearly twenty minutes to fix each one. After the first one, Ginny lowered herself back onto her bed, breathing rather hard. "That was more complicated than I thought!" She exclaimed.

It took her another hour to build up enough strength to move onto the next rib. Heather wasn't able to mend bones yet, but she helped as much as possible; cooling Ginny down and healing some of the simpler cuts and bruises on the older girl's legs and side.

Some hours later, Ginny had finished with her last rib and was attempting on healing the significantly painful bruises that lined her chest and side. Sighing, she fell back upon her pillows, hissing at the pain that shot through her side.

Heather looked up from where she'd nearly fallen asleep again. "Done?" She asked sleepily.

Ginny shook her head, pulling her shirt up to just below her breasts, allowing the naturally cool air of the room to wash over the heated pain, soothing and calming her.

"I don't have enough energy left. But I've fixed all the major stuff. I suppose I can just leave it and let the rest heal on its' own." She shrugged, pulling herself back to sit on her pillow.

They both started when something rapped sharply on the window. Ginny sat up quickly, then fell back on her bed with an anguished groan at the pain that lanced through her side and stomach.

Heather stood. "I'll go see what that was." She moved over to the window and opened it. She gasped and leapt back, startled, as Blaise flew in on his broom. Ginny stared over her chest, though she didn't have the strength or will to sit up.

"What is it?" she asked, leaning her head back on her pillow. "If it's Draco's owl again, send it back- I don't have any more owl treats. Honestly, he needs to feed that poor creature more." The hint of anger in her voice betrayed the otherwise normal statement.

"Actually, Gin…it's Blaise."

Ginny sat up immediately, clutching at her side. "Oh, fucking hell!" she gasped. Realizing that Blaise was averting his gaze in an almost embarrassed fashion, Ginny looked down, flushed, and pulled down her shirt.

"S'alright." She confirmed. Blaise turned around, his glance now worried. "Bloody hell, Ginny! What the hell happened to you? Is that from the game?" He asked, gesturing towards her side, which had betrayed a quick glimpse of a large black bruise before she had a chance to pull her shirt down.

Ginny flamed and bit her lip, glancing away evasively. "Um…yes. A little run in with a Bludger." Blaise's eyes bugged open. "Is that from the one that Draco hit?"

Ginny's head snapped up, her avoiding gaze growing shocked. "You saw that?"

Blaise shook his head, still looking aghast. "No, but Draco told me. He's been upset about it all day. Given me the most horrible headache, it has." Blaise shook his head wearily as if to emphasize his point.

Ginny's gaze softened somewhat. "Draco…" she said gently, then turned to Blaise as if just seeing him. "He's been worried? What did he say?" She sat up again, doing her best to ignore the throb in her side.

Blaise seemed to lose his cool temporarily, as well as his verbal abilities. "Uh…erm…well…" he searched for words, floundering while Heather watched on with more than a little amusement.

"He…er…well- Um...it's just that he was really horrified that he'd hit you." He said in a rush. Heather grinned silkily and Ginny cocked her head. "Well, he was worried that you might be hurt…he went looking for you, but after looking in the hospital wing, library, and the Great Hall, he figured you had to be up here, so you couldn't be too hurt, but he's still upset, and I'm babbling, aren't I?" He turned to Heather to ask the last question. She grinned and nodded.

"I'm afraid so. Quite a bad case you've got there…babbling like a bloody school girl." She quipped and Blaise childishly stuck his tongue out at her. Ginny laughed as they began bickering. Ever since they'd gotten together, Heather and Blaise had become more lively and well…fun. They laughed and joked more…no longer were they so worried about keeping up appearances. Their cool, brisk, unaffected exteriors loosened a little, and they really lived life now.

"Anyway…" Ginny cleared her throat, breaking into their friendly bantering. Blaise turned to her mid-rant, mouth still open and Heather bent over in silent laughter, clutching her sides. Ginny rolled her eyes slightly and swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing with only the slightest grimace.

Turning around to face Heather and Blaise with her arm wrapped around her side, Ginny surveyed her two friends carefully.

Blaise shifted slightly. "What?" He asked, wary of her sharp gaze.

Ginny cut off her searching gaze to look up and meet his eyes, and where his were confused and suspicious, hers were pleading and resolute. "Fine. I really appreciate you telling me about…everything. But I need to deal with this myself. As much help as you've been, Draco and I have to fix this." She shook her head slightly, and moved to her trunk, opening it and pulling out clothes.

"I've got to go talk to him." She pulled out an outfit and flung it onto her bed, pausing and turning to the other couple. "I need you two to do me a favor- don't…tell Draco about…this." She touched a hand to her side.

Heather's eyes darkened and Blaise stared. "What do you mean? He's got to know. He's freaking out right now, and he doesn't even know he's done anything to you. He's going to want to know what he did."

"But you said he didn't mean to!" Ginny protested.

Blaise put his hands up, backing away a step. "He didn't! It's just that…well…" He looked around, as if searching for a reason to keep his mouth shut. He couldn't really find one, but he felt like not telling Draco was betraying him somehow. He had the right to know.

"He'd find out anyways, and if you or one of us doesn't tell him, he'll get really pissed." Blaise scraped up, realizing it was no argument, but willing o try anything to get Ginny to see sense.

Ginny nodded understandingly. "I know, I know. And I will tell him, cross my heart. But I need to talk to him first, honestly and truly, without him thinking that he's done me some serious harm. If he thinks he's hurt me, it won't be the same." She gazed at her two friends, pleadingly.

Blaise was still searching for something valid to say. It was Heather who first spoke. "Deal." Blaise turned to her, surprised. Heather nodded practically unnoticeably. "I understand you need to talk to him. But you need to tell him as well. We'll give you two days, and if you don't tell him, we will." She locked her eyes with Ginny's. "Can you handle that?"

Ginny scrunched up her face and stuck up her nose. "I suppose. Though it's an awful lot to ask of a poor girl." She feigned fatigue, then became serious. "Alright. I'm going to go talk to him, and then I'll tell him." She nodded, going back to her bed to pick up her clothes.

"He's back at Slytherin, yeah?" She asked offhand over her shoulder, beginning to unbutton her robes. The scarlet cloth fell to the ground around her feet. As she bent to pick it up, Blaise shook his head. After realizing (with the help from Heather's elbow) that Ginny couldn't see him, he opened his mouth. "Um…no, actually. Well, he might be, on second thought. When I left, he was going to see Skye. You should try her classroom first. If he's not there, try Slytherin tower."

"And if he's not there?" Ginny asked teasingly, putting her robes in her trunk.

Blaise shrugged, putting an arm around Heather and steering her over to his broom. "He's your bloke, not mine." Smiling and waving, the couple mounted the broom and flew off through the window.

Ginny rolled her eyes and undressed, slipping into a cleaner, less battered outfit. She wrapped her sparkling silvery cloak around her shoulders and squared them, turning to the open window, broom in hand.

"Right. Slytherin chat time."

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

"Hello?"

"Skye? It's Ginny. Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure…hang on a tick."

"No problem. Oh, is Draco in there with you?"

The door to the dance classroom opened, and Skye stood in the doorway in men's black cotton pajamas covered in little orange, grey, white, and tan hairs.

Yawning, she looked down and hastily wiped her front. "Damn. Er- darn." She corrected. "Remind me never to wear black and play with kittens."

Ginny laughed.

Skye looked up after a moment, putting her fuzzy night-clothes down as a lost cause. "Were you looking for Draco, then?" Ginny nodded, trying to peer over Skye's shoulder into the classroom discreetly. "Sorry, he's gone. I think he went to look for you." She shrugged and smiled, waving her goodnight as she shut the door without another word.

Ginny stared at the wooden door for a second before turning back to Gryffindor.

"What a crazy woman." She muttered to herself, shaking her head admiringly.

Draco strode both angrily and determinedly down a corridor. As a snooping, sneaking Slytherin (and he would be the first to agree with that last statement), he knew many many things about the castle he wasn't supposed to. Including (luckily) where the other house common rooms were.

Sometimes it helped to be rich and good-looking…some girls would tell you anything…

Recalling the location of the Gryffindor common room, Draco pushed aside a rug hanging on a wall, which led to another corridor.

Before long, he was approaching (he hoped) the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, which was marked by a portrait of a Fat Lady dressed in pink. Scanning the walls as he ascended the stairs, Draco allowed his mind to wander.

What to do? He knew he needed to apologize to Ginny (though no sorrow or excuses could ever make up for that momentary lapse in judgment), he just didn't exactly know how to go about doing it…

Shaking his head, he walked on, and stopped abruptly. He slowly backed up and turned to the wall again. A rather large woman dressed in a frilly pink dress. She arched an eyebrow at him.

"Yes?"

"I need to get in." Draco said simply.

The Fat Lady laughed heavily. "Funny, that!" Then, realizing he was serious: "Of course you can't come in! You're no Gryffindor. Even without your Slytherin tie, I could tell." She sniffed disapprovingly at him. "I'm sorry," she began, sounding as if she was not at all "but you can't come in, good night."

She made as if to turn away to go back to what looked like a glass of wine. Draco stomped forward, the unmistakable Malfoy face of rage taking over. The Fat Lady turned to smirk at him one last time, and promptly dropped her wine glass.

Ignoring the shattering goblet, the Fat Lady's jaw began to flutter and flap, trembling with fear that echoed in her large eyes. Clearly she hadn't forgotten the time Sirius Black tried to break into the Gryffindor common room to get to Potter.

"Erm…wait, wait, wait!" She held up her hands as Draco stalked closer. "D-don't come any closer! I'm warning you! Just don't hurt me!" She cowered as Draco came up to within a foot of the painting.

"Quite your blubbering. I just need to get inside."

The Fat Lady looked close to tears. "I-I can't! Not unless you have the password."

"But I have to talk to someone in there!" Draco growled, stepping closer. "Hello? Hello!" He shouted, banging on the picture frame noisily.

"DRACO!? What are you doing?"

Draco whirled around and the Fat Lady fled, leaving him to face a very confused and surprised Ginny, standing on the steps just below him, hands on her hips, frowning slightly.

"Ginny!" Practically leaping down the stairs Draco flung himself at Ginny. The considerably smaller red-head nearly fell back with the force of Draco latching onto her neck. Her side panged painfully, but she managed to ignore it, as her shock neatly overwhelmed her pain.

"Draco?! What on earth?!" She gasped. Draco was crushing her to him and she could barely breathe under the pressure of how tightly he was holding her. "What's wrong? This is so…unlike you."

He was off her in a second, standing back a few steps and looking down at his feet rather sheepishly. "Sorry…are you alright?"

Ginny was still staring at him, mouth wide open. Draco shifted uncomfortably and she seemed to snap back to reality…yes, this was Draco Malfoy standing in front of her…though a very strange and possibly slightly addled one…with a bit of a concussion perhaps…

"Um…yeah…I'm fine." Ginny managed. She could almost see the cloud of relief come out of him as he sighed.

"Gods, Ginny…I'm so…s-s-sorry about the game." He forced out. Now was not the time to get tongue-tied…he continued on in a rush.

"YouknowIdidn'tmeantohityou,right,becasueIwasaimingforDeanand…" Ginny shook her head and waved her hands at Draco. "Wait, wait. Slow down Draco, I can't understand a word you're saying." Draco shut his mouth hastily.

"Now...what did you say?" Ginny asked, putting a hand on his arm and steering him to sit down on the stairs. Draco sat down rather exhaustedly.

Staring straight on ahead of him, he went on. "You know I'd never do anything to hurt you, right?" Ginny's head snapped around. She was…well, to be perfectly frank…touched. Not just in the metaphorical sense, either: Draco was gently caressing her knee and the skin above it, sending distracting shivers and insane ideas through her brain.

Forcing herself to stop thinking about wrapping herself around him right then and there, Ginny turned to Draco once more. His face was drawn and troubled, and he was still staring at the ground in front of him. Ginny reached out hesitantly and touched her finger to his chin, turning it gently so that he faced her.

His normally light eyes had gone dark, like they did sometimes when he was about to kiss her or hold her. It scared her sometimes, like it was doing now. When he was looking at her like that, she didn't know what he was thinking. He could be thinking about anything from sex to death…a very, very wide range of possibilities.

"I never meant to hit you. I just wanted you to know that. I meant to hit him…Thomas, I mean. I talked to Po-Harry this morning and he told me about…that thing in your fourth year." His eyes went even darker, so that now they were a murky grey-blue.

Ginny tensed. Damn it Harry! She must have said it out loud, because Draco started suddenly, staring at her as if she'd lost it. "Well, really! Damn him. I'd gone two years without anyone finding out. He finds out and can't keep it to himself for a week! Bloody hell!" She stood suddenly, stamping furiously.

Draco was wide-eyed. He also stood, and enclosed Ginny quickly in a tight embrace. Ginny choked back a gasp as his ribs hit her tender ones, but pushed the slight pain away. It was nothing to this. She hadn't been with Draco in quite a while, and she'd begun to miss him.

Draco pulled away.

"What was that for?" Ginny asked, resting her head contentedly on Draco's chest. When he spoke, it rumbled against her temple, soothing her even more.

"Harry lets out your secret to your boyfriend and you're ready to kick his arse; I nearly knock a hole in you and you're all hugs and sweet talk." He shook his head, marveling at the devotion (or possible mental issues) of his loved.

Ginny snuggled in closer, a ridiculously sappy smile stretching lazily across her face. "Yes, well…you would knock a hole in Harry if I was all hugs and sweet talk with him. So I guess no matter what you do, I'll still love you. Besides, you give the best hugs." She added after a moment's pause.

Draco glanced down at her (rather the top of her head). "Just hugs?" Ginny tilted her head up, looking up at him. "Hmmm?" Draco bent lower, bringing his lips closer to hers. Ginny's eyes slipped from their lock with his to land on his lips. "What about kisses?" Ginny's cocoa gaze flickered up to him momentarily. "Like I'd tell you you've got kisses that could melt a girl and leave her lying in a puddle at your feet." She shook her head slightly. "You're ego's big enough as it is." She teased.

Draco leaned down and brushed his nose across hers. She gasped and then scowled at him, to which he merely grinned. She'd thought he was going to kiss her.

"Well, whose fault is my over-inflated ego?" He asked teasingly. Ginny's frown went to a smile. "Could it be my praising Gryffindor girlfriend?" Draco pretended to think. Ginny laughed and reached up, tugging his face down to hers. "Shut up, Draco. You're so damn full of yoursel-" His lips ate her 'f' and the rest of her sentence. Not that she really minded.