Hello everyone, I know I have'nt updated in ages, sorry about that. Well I saw the demonstration of a tooth extraction today, and the next time I will be doing it myself, the thought is a little scary I admit.

Chapter 9

As she melted completely in his arms she was aware once again that there was something missing and that something was not complete. Drawing back slightly she paused, her breath punctuated by deep ragged breaths. Sensing her hesitation, Draco drew back too.

"What's wrong?" he whispered against her ear, still refusing to let go of his hold on her.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Bending her head she whispered "I'm sorry Draco but I can't do this."

His response was to tighten his hold on her as he raised her head and gazed deeply into her eyes.

"Look at me Ginny" he commanded softly but firmly. As she slowly raised her head to look into those grey eyes, the tears spilt over running rivulets over her face.

"We don't have to do anything that you don't want or do not intend to do. I'm very much comfortable continuing in this phase of our relationship and I'm not exactly about to force you into unknown territories."

She could feel herself sinking, deep down into the depths of despair and it was becoming extremely difficult to assess the depth to which she had receeded and she had no wish for him to witness her destruction.

'I'm very much comfortable continuing in this phase of our relationship'. The little hope that she had had that he might just reciprocate her feelings had been trodden upon cruelly. Just who was she fooling, it was completely her stupidity if she had chosen to build castles in the air. Just because she had been foolish enough to entertain thoughts of him saying 'Ginny my dear, you are life itself, and I wish you to take your rightfull place beside me as my wife' did not mean that he had!

Wordlessly she moved out of his arms and picking up her coat left without a backward glance completely oblivious to the stunned expression on his face.

He did not love her! He was completely okay with what they shared, the only problem was that she was not, but then again that was completely her headache and no one could be blamed for inviting that kind of an avalanche upon one's head except for herself.

As she entered her dormitory, it was all she could do to stop the wretched sobs that threatened to convulse her whole body. She felt as though she had been shattered................from within. As she gazed out of the window, the tears cascading down her face like an unstoppable flood she was aware that the night had never seemed so cold, the sky so dark and her future so bleak.

Every step she took seemed to weigh her down. Her face was pale and she looked ravaged...........which she was in a sense by her emotions. As she entered the Great Hall, her eyes automatically searched for his and as they locked onto the target she felt time stop, all action suspended. She quickly averted her eyes. The effect he had upon her was almost brutal.

She gazed unseeingly upon the toast in front of her. She was contemplating her entire 'relationship' with him. The question was how did one redefine something that never really had a name?

"Ginny". Why did he have to come and torment her so. Not content with thrusting the knife through her aorta he was now painfully turning it. Slowly she lifted her head and she did not like what she saw.

His face was grim. "We need to talk."

She was forced to follow him out of the hall into a narrow hallway. It was as though a magnetic attraction existed drawing her towards him. She came to a halt directly in front of him.

"Ginny will you please tell me what's wrong. I can't go on like this."

She had to do it now, painful though it was. Sighing deeply she was aware that she was deeply saddened by the fact that it had to come to do this.

"Draco I'm sorry" she paused, unable to go on for a minute. Gathering up all the vestiges of her emotions, she continued "it's best if we go our separate ways."

His face tightened and one could see the pulse ticking in his neck. "Best for whom Ginny?" He swore roughly under his breath and gathered her in his arms.

He ran his hand through her glorious red mane and holding her head in position, he crushed her lips beneath his and fused them. She gave all she had from deep within her soul. She wanted to savour every moment in his arms for this might just end up being the last time.............he was the only man who made her feel this way..........alive.

She ran her hand through his hair and with her other lifted up his shirt beneath his robes to feel his hard pectoral muscles, which were taut with emotion.

"Ginny............." he whispered in her ear, carressing her thigh, "are you telling me that did'nt mean a thing to you?" His voice was constricted with emotion and his eyes had turned into molten pools.

She did'nt want to answer, for then the bubble would shatter. She clung to him, never wanting to let go.

"Let go of him Ginny".

Ron's furious voice was the last thing she had expected to encounter.

That's it for this chapter. Thanks to all those who reviewed last time and I hope you continue to do the same. If you leave behind your email-id I will let you know when I update this fic.