Chapter 8

Someone was hurting him. She stared lifelessly at the scene in front of her. "Dad," she whispered, clutching the bedsheets against her chest, and bringing her knees up. "Please stop it." From what she could see, her father's face was contorted into a heavy rage, his breathing was sharp, his back hunched over, and his hands grasping the boy's throat. She watched his lip lift into a sneer. Her boyfriend's eyes were losing their shimmer-boyfriend?­-she smiled somberly and pleaded again in a weak voice, "Daddy, don't."

For all of his life, Draco Malfoy never had anything that he could call his. Arthur Weasley's eyes had changed; they lost their spirit, completely broken down by the darkness. He was squeezing the life out of the young wizard. Draco's hand uncurled and he reached for the bedside and gripped his wand, struck Mr Weasley, and stood slouched over and panting, "Not today, I'm afraid, I have other business to attend to," he smiled and went straight to Ginny, his arms draped around her back as he pulled her towards his body and laid his head on her shoulder, the scent of her intoxicating him. "I won't allow you to take what's mine."

"I'm..." she started before either of them realized what she was doing. He felt her trembling slightly from his touch. "yours?" she was finding it difficult to breathe. She could faintly see the gleam in his eyes as her head fell to his chest.

"Draco," Dumbledore started lightly, "shall we take you two back? Severus, will you see to our unidentified guest?" Snape nodded and levitated Arthur from the room. "Well then. It seems you're relatively better. Miss Weasley, I must apologize for what you witnessed, Mr Malfoy, you're alright?"

They weren't exactly listening to him. Her head was on his chest, eyes closed, breathing slow and even. His head was against the headboard, his fingers in her hair, but his eyes were open, staring at nothing. "Yes," he murmured when he recognized the voice.

--

Too much had happened in such a brief time. Molly had owled, sending a most unsettling letter to her children. Ginny was the first to read it. She was staying in Draco's room that night when it arrived. "What is it?" He asked as his wet hair dripped on her neck, causing her to shudder. The towel around his waist brushed against her hip and she turned to him.

She was very rigid suddenly and extremely pale. He noticed it immediately and touched her cheek; it dripped onto his hand and her arms locked around his back and she held him abruptly. She was shaking so much that he started to as well. "My father..." she muttered and felt his arms come around to embrace her softly.

"They refuse to stop destroying innocent people," he cursed under his breath and heard himself make a noise that was most inappropriate at this moment. She was so close and one of her feet was positioned between his thighs. He pursed his lips and hoped to god she didn't hear him.

"Draco," she whispered, "I think this," she pressed her knee against his lightly and continued, "needs to be moved." she shifted it and he pouted. "This is not the time." Though she had to admit it was tempting. "God, I'm a horrible daughter! My father just...and all I can think about is..." she eyed him and he smirked. She glowered. "Oh shut up you pervy little ferret!"

"The best way to release stress," he murmured and tipped her chin up to look at her tear-streaked face. "is to occupy the mind with other activities." He lifted an eyebrow suggestively and frowned when she untangled herself from him and sat on the bed. He joined her and remained silent. Carefully and cautiously he slipped his hand into hers and felt her put pressure on it. Good sign. "Look, I don't know much about what your going through, so I'm going to try and be as supportive as I can to you for as long as you need me." He hugged her tightly and whispered, "I'll always be there."

It was later that night when he awoke. His eyes adjusted to the room and he turned over and stopped. She was curled up near him wearing one of his shirts and a pair of flanal pants. He had forgotten that he asked her to stay so that she didn't feel intrusive even though she was ordered to remain there until further notice. He had never woken up with someone in his bed before. He moved to sit on the window ledge before he heard something behind him. He grinned wickedly as he twirled around and caught her in the midst of the dream, her knuckles white as she curled her hand in the air above her and said something that made him tingle. "Draco," she said again. It was one which he was familiar with. He chuckled to himself as he redirected his attention to the window. With his back against the wall he looked out at the sky, it was starry and an inky sort of black, and moonless. "Hey, did I wake you?" she muttered and stood beside him.

"No, but you were too busy to notice I was up." She flushed deeply, looking mortified.

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. It was...entertaining." He smiled and snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, she purred unconsciously. "It's a shame it wasn't real."

"You're hopeless." She said and leaned against him, her long hair brushing his cheek, making him stifle a whimper. "Such a male." Grinning she sat down next to him and sighed. "This is all so massive. Do Ron and Harry know?"

"I'm not sure. Dumbledore was supposed to take care of that. But don't worry." He reached and ran his thumb over her jawline and she recoiled. He felt her move against him in the dark and he groaned slightly. "You damn tease," he snarled and held tighter.

"Draco, my father's death was my fault."

"You know that's not true."

"It is if you think about it. He died because I didn't surrender to Taka. How could I have done that?"

"Are you telling me that you would have died to save him?"

"Without a second thought."

"How do you suppose we can get rid of them?" Draco asked and tilted his head.

She moved to be level with his face and he put his hand on her cheek as the unseen moonlight filtered into the room. "We occupy our mind for now." He kissed her lightly at first, his fingers trailing through her hair, traveling to catch her hands and lace them together. "And enjoy what we have until it comes time for the real battle." He felt the tears slide down onto his neck and he shivered while she pressed closer, whispering his name.

He thought at that moment, through everything that tore them apart, that he might love her.