Crimson Gold, Priz: What is it with you darlings and vampires? I guess I know what to get you for Christmas… Thank you very much!
Julia Bartlett: Thank you ever so much! (Just as a matter of interest, I actually was writing while I was reading that.)
Chapter Thirteen
A quick swirl of light and color later, and Ginny found herself, still in Lucius' embrace, in the hall of a sprawling Tudor manor. Lucius pulled her against him, lifting her off the floor as he kissed her. When he put her back down, her eyes flicked toward the sweeping staircase. Her took her hand and gently led her up the stairs and down a hall to a room that housed a four-poster bed covered in white silk, down, and suede.
Lucius caught the glint of apprehension in Ginny's eyes.
"Is this what you want?" He asked her quietly.
Ginny swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. "This is exactly what I want," she whispered, as she pressed her lips to his and their gentle kiss soon grew to deep and hungry.
Ginny lowered her hands and removed his outer cloak. She let it fall to the floor as she pulled his sweater over his head, breaking their passionate kiss for only a split second. She unbuttoned his shirt as he kicked off his shoes and socks, then wrapped her arms around his waist.
He slipped her cloak off her shoulders and pulled her sweater over her head, then dropped her attention to her heck and shoulders. As his lips danced across her collarbone, she kicked off her shoes and socks.
Their kiss broken, Ginny took Lucius' hands and led him to the bed, laying down as she reached it. He unfastened and removed her pants quickly, following suit with his own. Ginny took in his body by the dim light from a window. He was perfect—muscular but soft. She splayed her hands against his chest as he lay over her. They kissed again, wasting no time with their usual reluctance. Ginny gasped and felt her back arch as he entered her.
--
Nearly an hour later, Ginny lay catching her breath as Lucius collapsed on top of her. He rolled to her side and wrapped her trembling body in the down and suede comforter, pulling her close against his chest.
"Are you all right?" He asked as she nuzzled into him.
Ginny smiled and looked up at him. "Aside from not being able to walk, I'm absolutely perfect."
Lucius laughed softly and infectiously. "That walking might be a bit of a problem when you have to get back to school."
Ginny wrapped her arms around him. "True, but I'm not quite ready to go back yet."
Lucius cocked an eyebrow at her. "Did you have anything specific in mind?"
Ginny pulled closer to him and kissed his neck. "This is enough for me." She looked up at him and kissed him, gently but deeply. She felt his body respond, and within moments he was inside her. She buried her hands in his hair as he began moving slowly within her.
Before they knew it, it was time for them to return to Hogwarts.
--
It was almost five in the morning when Ginny returned to the Gryffindor Tower. She tip-toed across the common room, only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw Hermione standing at the bottom of the stairs, wearing an expression that said, quite plainly, 'Well?'.
"Morning," she said quietly, "What happened?"
Ginny shrugged. "Nothing important."
"Nothing important? You've been gone nearly six hours!"
"I fell asleep."
Hermione's eyes were imploring. "Ginny, I told you last night, I won't pass judgement."
"In that case," Ginny said, smiling now, "Don't you already know what happened?"
"Yes. I just wanted to hear you say it. Aside from that, was there any news?"
"Nothing important. He's not ready to take me to Voldemort yet."
"Did you talk about the other night in the fire?"
"Just a bit. He mentioned that he was serious."
"That's it?"
"Pretty much."
"So what do you think will come next?" Hermione asked. They stayed up discussing what could happen until the common room was filled with the bustle of a Saturday morning. Hermione had been quiet for some time, staring into the fire, when she looked up suddenly.
"Do you regret it?" she asked.
Ginny looked up, taken aback. "Regret what?"
"Everything, I suppose, but what I meant was last night."
Ginny shook her head. "I only regret that it couldn't have been under brighter circumstances."
Hermione glanced over to the table where Harry and Ron were playing chess. "I know exactly what you mean."
--
The rest of the weekend passed without incident, and, to Ginny's disappointment, without word from Lucius. Then, at breakfast on Monday morning, Hades flew into the side of her head. He dropped a parchment onto her plate and flew off to the Owlery. Ginny opened the letter.
Ginny:
I am very, very sorry that you haven't heard from me since Friday night. I've been in some important meetings and couldn't find time to write. We should meet tonight for an update.
The rest of the message was in invisible ink:
I'll be in the Gryffindor common room tonight at midnight. Be there alone. Send Hades back to me if there's a problem. --LM, with love.
Ginny smiled to herself as she tucked to note into her back and whispered the meeting plan to Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
Ron narrowed his eyes slightly. "That's a bit soon after the last meeting, isn't it?"
Ginny glanced quickly at Hermione, who shrugged noncommittally. "It's usually a day or two," she said, turning back to Ron, "I don't think this is unusual."
Ron seemed satisfied. "Hmph," he said, turning back to his plate, piled high with waffles.
--
Ron, Harry, and Hermione were in Defense Against the Dark Arts when Ron turned to Hermione accusingly.
"What hasn't she been telling us?" He asked.
"Why would you think that I know?" Hermione replied coolly.
Harry jumped in. "Ron, we've been going over this for weeks. She doesn't have to tell you everything."
Ron sighed. "I know. But that doesn't mean that I have to like it."
Hermione glanced affectionately at Ron. " You need to let her go, Ron. She knows what she wants, and she's going to go after it."
TBC
