Chapter 14:
He had found out that next day what she had been trying to hide. Her fear, she thought, was all-consuming and kept her from revealing the truth. He was standing outside the Great Hall one afternoon when she came out with Ron, Harry, and Hermione on her heels, all looking about ready to kill Malfoy. He simply smirked and pulled Ginny against his side, his fingers going slowly, Harry noticed, down her side to hold her waist. He ignored their protests as he walked with her onto the grounds with fewer people staring this time. He set his back against the giant oaktree in front of the lake, she decided to settle between his legs, her head under his chin, while his fingers absentmindedly stroked her arm. She was quite certain that she could very well die like this. So peaceful. So happy. She felt his lips briefly touch her ear before he whispered, "I know your secret," and smiled slightly. She didn't turn around, nor did she move much at all.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she replied. "How angry are you with me?" She then noted the reflection in the water below and she squinted; behind her his shoulders gave an uncharacteristic slump and his head bowed. "Draco?" she asked worriedly. She flinched when she felt something wet on her shoulder and thought it was starting tp rain until she finally turned around. She used one hand to lift his chin and saw how glassy his eyes were, his hand came up to tangle in his own hair and a look of embarassment crossed his features.
"Damn, you've got to be fucking kidding," He mumbled more to himself then her and wiped his eyes, one single teardrop remaining on his hand. He stared at it deeply. "I can't remember the last time I cried, sad, huh?"
"No," Ginny shook her head. "I think it shows you're human after all."
"If possible," he muttered "a demon with a human heart."
With a sudden gust of wind the rain had come, in a downpour. They stood and started to walk back until he grasped her hand and pulled her toward him. Completely drenched he looked at her and smiled. "I..."
"You what, Gin?" He was trying to shake the water from his hair when she pulled his face down to hers and smiled.
"I love you." And she kissed him, her fingers tightening around his back.
"Then will you marry me?" he whispered against her cheek, his body feeling extraordinarily warm as buckets of freezing rain hit him.
He hadn't realized it until that point...how much he truly loved her. He was on the ground before he even knew what to do. She was curled against him, whether shuddering from the rain or something more, he didn't know. She leant down and sent her own shudder through him when she whsipered, "I will."
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Author's Note: Don't kill me! That was all that I wanted to do for chapter 14. I'll be continuing soon.