A/N: Well, probably what most of you have been waiting for; 'Lucky' number seven ;) This chapter contains sexual situations/descriptions. If that bothers you, don't read.

Chapter 7

Draco was so startled he nearly fell off the roof as a soft voice greeted him. He looked down, spotting Ginny. She was looking up as if she could see him. He quickly stilled. He was still invisible as far as he knew... he didn't know how she could seem to see him... perhaps she was guessing? If so she was pretty amazing at guessing... Maybe if he was really quiet she would go away....

She gave him a little smile when he didn't respond. "If you don't want to be found, might I suggest you quit kicking the Slytherin banner?" She said, her voice full of mirth.

He leaned forward and looked down, then groaned in irritation. His shoes were indeed dimpling the fabric of the large banner. "Father would kill me..." He muttered amusedly, pulling up his feet. Seeing there was no point in pretending not to be there, he grabbed his broom and glided down before her.

"What are you doing here?" He asked softly. He knew it must be getting steadily harder for her to see in the growing darkness. He knew it wouldn't bother him though... and he liked the way it made her pupils dilate in an attempt to gather enough light to see. He quickly brushed aside such thoughts.

"I... wasn't sure you would come back... so I went looking for you..." She said, dropping her eyes. "I saw the Ravenclaw seeker and I knew where to find you... snitches don't move like that."

Draco felt a little warmth creeping into his cool cheeks. "I was just having a bit of fun..." He said contritely, "He needed the practice anyway..."

"And then that bludger..." She said softly.

There was a definite warmth to his cheeks this time. "It's not my fault he wasn't paying proper attention..." He began.

"You saved his life." She said, her eyes shining as moonlight began taking over.

He fell silent, not knowing what to say to that.

"Don't try to deny it... unless you expect me to believe he suddenly learned how to fly on his own? While half unconscious and wandless no less?" She said, clearly amused.

"Why did you seek me out?" He asked, quickly changing the subject.

"I want to know why you went away last night..." She said reluctantly, her voice aching a bit.

He sighed. "I just don't think I should bother you further... it's obvious spirits have been less than kind to you in the past. I don't want to become another scar." He said heavily.

She shook her head, obviously not believing it. "That's not all. Why is what happened to me effecting you so much? You aren't... related to... him are you?"

Draco snorted. "I'm no heir of Slytherin." He said immediately.

"But... you were a Slytherin, weren't you?" she asked gently.

His eyes went wide and he once again remained silent.

She nodded. "I thought as much. Why else would you have had to meet her in such a secluded place? And of course there was your choice of perches..." She said, looking up at the Slytherin banner billowing lazily in the breeze.

He sighed. "Yes... I'm a Slytherin... so you see, it would be best if you just go back to the castle... if you're quick you can make it before curfew... and you don't have to worry... I'll not bother you again." He said sadly.

She stepped forward, reaching out blindly until she found him, then moving closer and trailing her fingers over the cool skin of his cheek. "You aren't a bad person just because you were in Slytherin... I think you are a very caring and loving man... I don't care what House you were once in."

He was surprised, to say the least, that she would so easily brush off something that should have been a big red flag for her... he probably had a decent chance at her if only he... He sighed, knowing that for some reason he couldn't let her believe that was the whole extent of it. "I saw what was happening and I didn't stop it... I saw you writing in the journal and I knew it for what it was... my silence cost you so very much... I knew it would... and yet I couldn't stop it... I couldn't help you when you so desperately needed it... I should have been able to find a way to tell you... yet I felt duty bound not to... I'm so sorry..." he said achingly.

She blinked in confusion. "You felt duty bound because it was another Slytherin that gave me the book?"

"More than that..." He admitted softly, "I may loath my family, but I cannot seem to bring myself to openly oppose them..." He admitted softly. He wasn't sure why he was admitting this, but he seemed unable to stop himself.

Her eyes went wide in shock. "You're a Malfoy?" she asked with a squeak.

"Obviously not a very good one... and I would change it in a heartbeat if I could... but I can't... so yes, I am..." He said regretfully.

She stood there for a long moment with an unreadable look on her face. The ache that filled his chest was so profound that it shocked him... why did he care so very much if she accepted him or not? Even if she did, it still wouldn't be HIM that she was accepting... not DRACO... she would be accepting Darien Malfoy, the boy who had died for his love many years ago... a boy who had probably felt more love and compassion in his short life than Draco would if he lived to be two hundred! He shook himself, realizing he was thinking of his made up character as a real person... one who had really lived... It just seemed the more he pretended to be Darien, the more real Darien was in his mind... and the more he felt he WANTED to be Darien... With a sudden rush of realization, his previous actions in saving the boy became clear. It is what Darien would have done...

He felt himself begin to tremble. This was wrong... he shouldn't be feeling like this... this girl's rejection of him should NOT be effecting him so much... he was a MALFOY! The rush of regret at that thought shocked him even more. He may have hated his father, but he had never felt the seething shame at the mere thought of his family that welled up in him at that moment. He turned. He couldn't look at her any longer.

He had to get away and think... yes... that would be best...

He hadn't gotten more than a couple of paces when he felt a hand grab hold of the back of his robe. He stopped, not turning.

"Please don't go..." She said softly.

"Listen... it's ok... really... I understand..." He said in an pained voice, "I wouldn't want anything to do with me either..."

"I never said I didn't want anything to do with you..." She said gently.

He turned as she released her hold on his robe. He looked into her eyes searchingly as she reached up, her hand finding his chest and sliding up. He felt a flutter in his chest as her warm hand ran up his neck, coming to rest on his cheek. His eyes went wide as she leaned forward, up on her tiptoes, and kissed him.

All conscious thought immediately fleeing, he took her in his arms, kissing her with a dizzying surge of pure passion. She melted against him unhesitatingly. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the kiss....

Neither knew how long they stood there like that, oblivious to the world around them... but both were suddenly brought back around as something tugged on Draco's robe... They looked down, spotting something neither of them had ever seen before... a Thestral colt...

Ginny let out a little gasp of delight and the colt immediately released the bit of robe it had in it's teeth and shied timidly. Draco knelt, holding out his hand to it encouragingly. With obvious trepidation, it slowly approached again. Ginny watched in wonder, then looked up between the changing room and the stands. There were nearly half a dozen more colts watching, scattered between the pitch and the Forbidden Forest. The one before them, though by far the smallest (looking like it was most likely a runt, coming up barely past her knees in height), was obviously the bravest of the lot. She looked down and stifled a laugh, not wanting to startle it again. The unruly locks of it's mane were being ruffled.

Draco stared at it with fascination. The colt quickly lost all reluctance, stepping up to him and nuzzling against him. He chuckled softly as he stroked the surprisingly silken fur of it's neck. "Hey tiger... you're a brave one, aren't you?" He said affectionately.

Ginny had to smile. From what she could see in the moonlight, the colt did in fact appear to have a slight striping to it's coat... like dark brown on black. She wondered if they all had such patterning at this age, but was too far away from the others to tell.

Draco glanced over, noting the others. He felt a surge of pride, somehow knowing that this was a great honor indeed. He'd never heard of anyone seeing their young... Even the texts didn't have any mention of them, which was odd, because they usually told of creatures from the nature of their birth all the way through their life cycle.

He looked over, seeing the adults slowly emerging from the Forest. He had only ever flown with them... never actually come into contact with them... He grabbed up his broom and rose, taking Ginny's hand in his other hand, and led her towards them, the little striped colt prancing along at his side. She followed, though hesitantly. It was pretty obvious that this greeting was for him, and she wasn't sure she would be welcome...

When he finally reached the lead adult, he stopped, bowing respectfully. It bowed its head in return, then let him pet it. More of the colts wandered over, several of them nibbling on his robe.

He laughed, realizing they wanted to play... they had probably seen him flying with their parents and wanted to join in, but were still too young. "You wanna play eh? Well come on then..." He said, mounting his broom. He took off, staying just a couple of feet off the ground and going slow. The colt quickly gave chase.

Ginny giggled, watching the young colts romping off, obviously following him just like their parents did. A couple of the older colts kept putting their wings out and fluttering a bit now and again, gliding a bit when they could get up enough momentum. It was obvious from their little bird-like churrs that they were having fun.

They eventually worked their wending way back to where their parents waited. He got off his broom, but the colts still seemed to want to play. He let them bowl him over, wrestling around with them a bit very carefully, taking special care with their little leathery wings. After a few minutes of this, one of the adults suddenly let out a loud bird-like screech, making Ginny start slightly.

The colts stopped, looking over, and reluctantly scampered back to the safety of the Forest. The littlest lingered, looking torn. Draco gave it's mane one more affectionate ruffle. "Go on, Tiger. I'll try to come back to see you sometime..." He said.

The colt let out a little screech, butting it's head against him in what was probably a very affectionate way for a Thestral, then scampering off. He watched it go with a smile. Yes... Tiger definitely suited it...

He looked over in surprise as one of the adults came up to him, nosing his sleeve. He pulled it up, trying to look at it through the blurred haze that the spell allowed him to see. He knew it hurt... he had felt one of the colts accidentally scratch him while they were playing. With talons like that, it was inevitable... he realized that it was why they had been called away... the others had smelt his blood and known he had been hurt.

He just watched as the Thestral began licking his forearm. He wasn't sure why he didn't pull away, but the stinging of the cut quickly vanished as the creature diligently cleaned it. When it was done, there was nothing more than a vague hint of an ache left.

He looked up as Ginny let out a little gasp. He followed her gaze and saw dozens of adult Thestrals emerging from the Forest, watching him intently. He grinned and went over to Ginny. "Looks like they're eager to play as well..."

She smiled and nodded. "Ok... maybe... maybe we could meet in the same place when you're done?" She asked hopefully.

He was struck by an inspiration. "Come with me Ginny!" He said eagerly, "Come fly with us!"

Her eyes went wide. "But... I can't fly!"

He let out a little laugh, going over and fetching up his broom from where he'd dropped it when playing, then came back over to her. "Neither can I! Not without help that is... I'm corporeal, remember?"

"But then how...?" She let out a little surprised sound as he swept her up, placing her on the broom in front of him. She felt it, quickly slipping her leg over and settling into place. "Now a broom I can handle." She said, her confidence returning. She giggled, imagining someone seeing her... she would be quite a sight... a girl just flying through the air, seemingly on her own...

"That I know." He said mirthfully, nudging the broom and sending them rocketing up into the sky. She looked back, watching the flock of Thestrals taking wing, following them in a large, but neat procession. She had never seen so many follow him at once before. It should have been unsettling riding on an invisible broom with an invisible boy, especially remembering her flight on a Thestral before she had been able to see them, yet she felt strangely safe and secure. He kept one arm wrapped around her waist the whole time, holding her tightly against him as they flew.

Even though he was the one steering, she felt oddly free as they flew. He went through a dizzying array of aerial acrobatics. She was quite exceptional on a broom herself, but he did moves even SHE had never attempted, pulling them off with what seemed like effortless ease.

She let out a cry of joy as he pulled off a heart-stopping move, which the Thestrals duplicated with ease. He leveled off and shifted his head forward, bringing his mouth to her ear. "Take over." He said, his lips brushing her ear and sending a shiver through her.

She hesitantly gripped the invisible broom. After a moment's hesitation, she got the feel of the broom and grinned, starting to put it through it's paces and testing it's maneuverability and speed to it's limits. The rush that was flowing through her only intensified, especially after he released the broom all together, wrapping both arms around her and nuzzling his face into her long hair. She knew this was his silent way of telling her it was all her, and he wouldn't interfere at all... she tried not to let the feel of his body pressed up against her back distract her... too much at least...

In no time at all, she was pulling off moves just as wild as those he had been performing earlier. The broom was so responsive it seemed to encourage her to push it harder. The only limits she set for herself were the edges of the Forbidden forest... which at the speeds she was going suddenly seemed a whole lot smaller... The Thestrals seemed to be enjoying it just as much as she was...

It seemed like barely any time had passed when she noticed the Thestrals starting to break off. She sighed when the last few stragglers drifted down below the dark canopy of the Forest. She slowed, turning back towards the castle. "The end comes all too soon, doesn't it?" He whispered softly in her ear.

She smiled, wondering if it always seemed so brief to him... it had felt like only a few minutes, but she knew from how numb her face and arms were that it had been much longer. He slid his hand back down onto the handle, heading them towards Gryffindor tower. She watched it approach. She'd never come at it from the air before. It seemed so much larger inside than it looked from outside... perhaps it was another spell...

They glided neatly through one of the owlry windows and came to a stop. She slipped off the broom and heard him settle down, carefully not stepping on the quilts and blankets. She usually left most of them up there so no one would see her hauling them back and forth and ask questions. She kept up a drying spell on them in case it rained, and every week or so she found them neatly folded, the house elves obviously having cleaned them.

She stood there, unsure what to say. She pulled her cloak closer, shivering at the crisp wind that flowed through, whipping her hair around like a red cloud. She heard him muttering softly, and the whole inside of the owlry suddenly glimmered with golden light. When it faded, the wind had suddenly diminished greatly, now no more than a gentle breeze... and to her surprise, the air around her quickly began to warm.

"What did you do?" She asked, reaching her hand towards the window. As soon as it passed beyond the sill she felt the cold, cutting wind, but when she pulled it back her hand was warm once more.

"It's called a Sanctuary charm. It creates a safe haven out of any room or structure. Can last up to a couple of weeks. Blocks cold, rain, snow, malignant spells... it also helps hide the occupants. It makes anyone looking feel that anything they would see here would be insignificant and they therefore look away... and it blocks sound of course." He said, taking one of her arms and rubbing it to try to help return some of the circulation and warm it up. "I hope it's warm enough... I can't really tell... sorry I'm not much help warming you up..."

She blushed. He actually WAS helping her warm up quite a bit... She couldn't help but think of that kiss...

"Did you like it?" He asked softly.

She blinked, "Um... huh?" She asked, startled out of her train of thought, feeling as if he had been able to read her thoughts.

He chuckled softly, "The flight... did you like it?"

"Oh... yes! Yes I liked it very much... that was just... thank you!" She said, blushing and smiling.

He chuckled again. "I think they liked it too... I don't think they've ever flown with anyone else..."

"Did... YOU like it?" She asked tentatively.

His hands stilled on her arm, but didn't let go. He didn't speak for a moment. "I... I've never shared that with anyone else before..." he said at last, "I wasn't sure if I would like it... like sharing them. I mean... ever since the first time... I've always felt like these flights were just between me and them... very... personal... it made me feel special that they chose to fly with me... like maybe they saw something in me that was worth something... that's not something that I have felt very often... and I was afraid... that... well if they flew with someone else as well... that it would make it less special... and me less special as well... does that make any sense?"

She sighed sadly, "I'm sorry Darien... I shouldn't have joined you... I didn't mean to..." She fell silent and a cool finger pressed to her lips.

"I was just telling you what I thought before, Ginny..." He said, his finger slipping away, "But when we flew together... I cannot even describe how amazing that was... I've never felt so close to anyone before... just having you there with me... I just felt..." She felt him shiver, "It has never been that intense before..." he said in a low, husky voice.

His voice sent a tremor through her. She leaned forward and he quickly took the opening, meeting her lips hungrily and wrapping himself around her. They clang to eachother, mouths seeming intent on devouring eachother for several minutes before she finally broke the kiss. She released him, quickly unfastening her robe and working her way out of it. She tossed it aside and began pulling up the edge of her shirt. He caught her hands, making her stop.

"Are you sure...?" He asked uncertainly.

A brilliant smile flowed across her lips. "I've never been more sure..." She said softly.

He released her hands, watching as she pulled off the shirt. He started taking his own clothes off slowly, mesmerized by the sight of her pale, perfect skin as it was exposed. Then she stood before him, completely naked and looking a bit self-conscious. He couldn't remember ever seeing a more beautiful sight. He let out a sigh of pleasure as he let his eyes trail down her.

She blushed more, quickly arranging the blankets as he finished removing his clothes. He looked down as she lay there, obviously a bit nervous.

"Are you sure you're warm enough?" He asked, seeing her trembling.

Ginny just nodded quickly, not trusting her voice. She shivered as she felt his cool hands begin to touch her. He settled down next to her and she quickly shifted over on her side, eagerly letting her hands explore his cool flesh. Her eyes went round as her hand drifted down. She bit her lip worriedly.

He chuckled softly, kissing her reassuringly. "Don't worry... I have no intention of hurting you... you'll be ready..."

She was dubious she could be ready enough for THAT, but her worry flowed away as he began kissing and nibbling expertly at her neck as his hands explored her. He drifted down, shifting his attention to her breasts. Despite his cool flesh pressed against her, she felt her body temperature rising. She moaned, running her fingers through his hair.

She shivered and her eyes shot open when she felt his hand slip down between her legs. She lay back flat on her back again, her eyes drifting back shut as his long slender fingers gently began rubbing her. He obviously knew what he was doing, his gently ministrations sending shockwaves of pleasure through her. After a few minutes of that, she didn't even flinch when he slid a finger into her.

She looked down curiously as he began kissing and licking his way down further, then let out a little trill as she felt his cool tongue. He shifted her legs apart, settling between them, sending pleasure through her that was so mind boggling she couldn't help but groan loudly. When he slid a finger into her again she lost it, arching her back and crying out as her first real orgasm flowed through her in hot and cold flashes of blinding pleasure.

He didn't relent, working a second finger into her and keeping up his attack until she had peaked twice more. She sighed in relief as he finally slid his fingers out of her. She lay there, limp and gasping for breath as he kissed his way back up her body.

"That... was amazing..." She panted giddily.

He chuckled and licked on the pulse point just behind her ear as he settled on top of her. "You haven't felt anything yet..." He whispered in her ear.

She felt as if she would pass out as he gingerly moved her legs up a bit more and she felt him shift into position. Very slowly he started pressing his length into her. She tensed up some as he came up against her maidenhood. His earlier ministrations had loosened it, but she was still afraid... she had heard some of the girls say it hurt a lot.

He didn't force it though... he simply stroked the little distance in he could reach, pressing a little more firmly each time until it gave with only a small, brief flash of pain. She gasped and cried out in pleasure as he patiently worked in the rest of the way. When he was finally completely inside her they both groaned. She had never felt so very... full!

Then he started moving and it was as if the world quaked around them.

"Merlin... you're so... hot..." He groaned in her ear.

She let out a laugh despite the situation. She could quite imagine she was. He, on the other hand, was still cool... not nearly as cool as he had been before though... she wasn't sure if it was the fact that her senses seemed to being going haywire... but his body seemed to be gathering a bit of warmth where it pressed against her.

She closed her eyes, her mind unable to take in so much input all at once. The feel of his bare skin sliding over her own sweat slickened skin was amazing enough... that along with the way he was invading her body so thoroughly was almost unbearably exquisite. She arched up against him as she peaked again, and still she could feel him restraining himself.

As her mind cleared a bit, she wrapped her legs around him, pressing herself up into his thrusts encouragingly. The last of his control seemed to slip and let himself go, his ardent thrusts jarring her whole body. She just held onto him, feeling his passion flow through her as it made her feel as if she was floating away. She felt the by now familiar sensation growing deep inside her. "Don't stop... don't stop..." she panted desperately over and over again as she felt the sensation growing. Her body clamped down on him as unimaginable pleasure crashed over her like a wave.

His breath caught in his throat and he buried himself in her, "Ginevra." he gasped hoarsely.

"Darien!" She cried out, arching against him at the unexpected feeling of heat flooding into her.

They lay there, panting and happily entwined for several long moments before either made any other sound.

"You ok?" He asked softly, his lips tenderly caressing her throat.

She giggled, "More than ok..." She sighed happily, pulling him closer.

Content with the answer, he fell silent once more. After a few more minutes, her hold on him loosened. As her arms slid off him, he shifted up, looking down at her with amusement. She was asleep.

He gently disengaged himself from her, making her shiver as he slipped out of her. He quickly pulled out his wand and cleaned them up, leaving her skin clean and sweat free. At least she hadn't bled much. It only took a couple of scouring charms to get the stain out of the quilt. He grabbed her robe and covered her as she shivered again.

She sighed happily in her sleep, rolling over onto her side and curling up under her robe. He just sat there leaning against the column and watching her for a long time. He couldn't understand it. He'd shagged plenty of girls before... and a number of them had even been virgins... but he had never been moved as profoundly as what he'd just experienced. It was like the difference between getting a little static shock and getting hit by lightening!

He just sat there, watching her as she slept, trying to work out the confusing jumble of emotions swamping his mind.

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