A/N - Warning: Adult stuff. (can anyone tell I'm getting tired of putting warning labels on everything?) :)

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Chapter 18

"We should probably take you in one of the minor entrances. I'm sure your earlier mad dash set off enough rumors." Blaise said as they approached the castle, "No need creating more..." He looked over, then made a little amused sound. "He made you walk back?" He asked, spotting the brown eyes.

Darien gave him a wane smile. "Well, he had a good point. I was the one who dragged us all the way out there barefoot in this cold in the first place." He said, shrugging.

"We're going to have to get you some dark glasses if you don't want everyone knowing about... um... this..." Blaise said, unsure how to refer to the possession without sounding offensive to Darien.

"Probably best for now." Darien agreed, nodding.

"There you are!" Ginny called out breathlessly as she ran up to him. "Why did you run off?" She asked worriedly. She fell silent and watched warily as a couple of Ravenclaws walked by on their way out to the lake while Darien looked studiously in the other direction to hide his eyes.

"We should get out of sight." Darien muttered softly once the Ravenclaws were out of easy earshot.

Ginny just nodded and followed him as he led around the base of the towering castle. She drew up short as he made his way into some dense shrubbery in one of the recessed areas. "Where are you going?"

Darien poked his head back out. "Into the castle of course. Don't want to use the main entrance wearing this!" He said ruefully, tugging on the front of the nightshirt showing through the opening of the robe. He slipped back into the brush.

"But there's no..." Ginny began, but was cut off by the sound of stone grinding against stone. She and Blaise hurried into the brush after him. Once past the initial vegetation, there was a small clear area. There was a stone passage in the wall before them, which now lay open.

"Bloody Nora! Where does THIS lead?" Blaise asked.

Darien looked back at him, surprised. "Into the dungeons of course. Don't they use it anymore?"

"Not that I've ever heard of." Blaise said, examining the opening. He pulled out his wand and muttered "Lumos." Moving forward into the passage, pushing back the pitch blackness within with the light of his wand.

Ginny took her wand out and lit it as well before moving into the passage. Darien closed the door behind them, then took her free hand, leading her forward.

He led them through the twists and turns of the ancient tunnel. It became obvious it hadn't been used in a VERY long time. The cobwebs alone were evidence of that. After trying to get through the first couple of dusty, yet still clingy webs, Ginny decided she'd had quite enough of THAT. She let Blaise provide the light, spelling her own wand to emit a blast of wind that cut through the ghostly masses with ease.

Blaise pause as they passed a branch off of the tunnel. "Where does this lead?" He asked curiously.

"Just rooms." Darien said offhandedly.

"Rooms?" Blaise said interestedly, "What kind?"

"Bedrooms, lavatories, a small gathering room... even a small kitchen I believe. This is a siege tunnel. In times of war it is used as a secret hiding place for refugees. It is specially made to amplify Guarding and Concealment charms, though I'm sure by now most of them need to be refreshed. There used to be a connecting passage that led straight into Slytherin Dungeon, but I noticed it appears to have been covered over on the Dungeon end. Maybe the tunnel collapsed... They do that here sometimes, despite Integrity charms. The place is ancient after all. This was probably last used for it's intended purpose back in the middle ages... In my day this was mostly just used as a place to snog without getting caught." Darien said with a smirk.

"Is that so..." Blaise said thoughtfully. "I think we need to get some house elves down here..."

Darien rolled his eyes. "I should have known better than to let you see this place!" he said ruefully. "Come along."

Blaise hesitantly continued on, looking deep in thought. From the smirk that kept flitting over his lips as he went on in silence, Darien knew this tunnel wouldn't be unused for long.

They were all thankful when they arrived at the other end of the tunnel. When they emerged through the back of a little alcove, still brushing off the remainder of the cobwebs, Blaise looked around wonderingly. "This is right around the corner from the Potions classroom!" He said, making a mental note of it's exact location for future reference.

"Indeed." Darien said, smiling over at Ginny as she used her wand to blow a couple of residual cobwebs out of his hair before dismissing the wind spell.

"How do you open it?"

Darien smirked. He knew Blaise would find a way to worm it out of him if he refused to tell. He decided to just give in now. Blaise wasn't one to deny if you wanted to stay sane. "You press your palm to the stone and seek safety."

Blaise arched an eyebrow. "Seek safety?"

Darien smiled, "Just fill your mind with the thought that you need a safe place to go... seek it in your mind and it will be provided. Kind of like the Room of Requirement. I KNOW you know about THAT one!"

"Brill!" Blaise said with an excited grin on his face. He glanced down the corridor as he heard talking. "No offense, but Draco might want to take over from here. At least until we can get you some glasses..." Blaise suggested, noting some students moving through the corridors nearby.

Darien nodded and fell silent. After a moment he rolled his eyes in exasperation. "He can be very grouchy when you try to wake him up." He said, sounding caught between amusement and exasperation.

Blaise chuckled. "Tell me about it!" He said mirthfully. "Let me give it a try." He said, moving over closer. He leaned in, whispering in Darien's ear. "Hey Draco... I have a very special present waiting for you in the Dungeon... something you'll really, REALLY like... Wouldn't want to sleep through that, now would you?" He asked smirkingly.

"Like what kind of present?"

Blaise laughed at the pale eyes that turned towards him with interest. "You'll have to see for yourself. It is beyond description." He said tantalizingly.

Draco still looked tired but followed eagerly, slipping out of the alcove behind him, still holding Ginny's hand. She hesitated when they reached the door to Slytherin Dungeon, but he just gave her a reassuring smile and led her in.

As soon as they entered the common room, Blaise's present became immediately visible. Above the mantle piece was a larger than life Wizard photo of Ginny, wailing on Harry in a continuos loop. Ginny turned bright red as Draco let out a laugh of pure pleasure.

"Thank Merlin for Colin Creevey and that blood ever present camera!" Blaise said gleefully.

Draco just couldn't stop watching as she beat on Harry endlessly, "I can't believe I missed that!" He said laughingly, "I do believe this is the best present I have ever received, Blaise! Other than you of course..." He said, sweeping a surprised Ginny into his arms, dipping her back and kissing her with dizzying intensity.

There was laughter and applause from the Slytherins who had been lounging around the common room, appreciating the new addition to the décor. By the time he set Ginny back properly on her feet, she was brilliant red. She was mortified at having her moment of lost control plastered up on the wall like that, but couldn't help but feel a little bit pleased by how much everyone here seemed to be enjoying it.

"Little Colin wasn't easy to convince to give it up... he is still rather loyal despite what he saw for himself of Harry's character. Of course he isn't exactly rich... once the offer reached two hundred galleons he caved." Blaise said with a wicked smirk.

Ginny looked over at him in shock. "You paid two hundred galleons for that photo?"

Blaise snorted with laughter. "I'm not daft. I paid two hundred galleons for the NEGATIVE. And believe me, I've already more than made it back. I believe everyone in Slytherin now owns at least one copy. I have even been receiving orders by owl from some of their friends and family members that heard about the picture... not to mention quite a number of discrete purchases by members of other houses... and a few staff members..." He said, grinning like a cheshire cat.

Ginny's blush returned to full brightness and she felt light headed. She stared at the photo. The look on her face exemplified pure, unadulterated outrage, the blows she rained on him not drawn in the slightest. It looked like she wanted to kill him! "Merlin..." She said faintly, "Did I really look like that?"

Draco came up behind her, slipping his arms around her. "It looks like I'm not the only one that's protective of what's theirs..." He whispered in her ear.

She was about to retort irritable when the words caught in her throat. Did he just indicate that he was hers? He pulled her tighter, his body pressing up against hers and she suddenly became aware of just how much he liked the photo...

"Would you like to see my room?" He murmured in a low, husky voice.

She shivered as the sound went right through her, She gave a little nod, not sure she could work her mouth at that moment.

Blaise just smirked and joined the others as Draco pulled Ginny off to his room.

Draco let out a little laugh as he shut his door, noticing the copy of the photo now hanging on the wall next to his bed. It was smaller, but still the size of a standard portrait. Draco pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss, backing her towards the large bed as he expertly began removing her clothes. By the time they reached the bed they were both without a stitch.

Without warning, he picked her up, tossing her onto the bed. She let out a laugh as he crawled after her. The almost predatory look on his face made her both nervous and excited at the same time. She let him shift her around, settling on top of her. He looked over at the photo again for a long moment. When he looked back down at her, his eyes were full of smoldering lust.

He took ahold of her thigh, sliding it up beside him, shifting into position. His pale eyes watched her avidly as he drove himself into her. She cried out in pleasure, her arms going around him as he started moving with more fervor than he'd ever shown before. Before long, even his sturdily built bed was quaking with the intensity of his thrusts. Every time she looked at him he would be either staring down at her... or over at the photo. She always knew when he looked over at it. Every time he did, his thrusts got harder and faster.

She arched up against him as she peaked with near blinding intensity. He kept right on moving, her wild writhing not breaking his rhythm in the slightest. She held only a tenuous grip on consciousness as his ardent pummeling seemed to draw out her peak far beyond what seemed possible. It was almost a relief when he finally rammed into her, spending himself with a deep groan.

He lay on top of her as they came slowly down, kissing her between his gasps for breath. After a few minutes, he gathered his strength, shifting himself off of her a bit. He pulled her close and dazedly grabbed a blanket, pulling it over them as the cool air quickly began to chill their sweat soaked bodies.

He gave the photo one last look, smiling blissfully. "Merlin... I think I'm in love..." He sighed, nuzzling up against her.

The words sent a trill through her. She looked over at him, not sure she heard him correctly, then sighed as a smirk slipped onto her lips. He was already drifting back off to sleep.

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