Dear Gin

I've been here almost an hour and I'm already going 'round the bend without you. Whatever happened to that Malfoy patience and restraint I once had? Oh, now I remember, I met you. I'm not complaining, far from actually. With you, however, came your impatience which was soon passed on to me. But it's only a small, insignificant price to pay to be yours.

My welcome here was not a warm one luv, but we expected that. Ran into your brother and nearly killed him. I'm sorry but he doesn't know when to let things go. And from what you've told me, he never has. Today he had the nerve to say that you belonged with Potter, the boy-wonder! Now I've told you about our run-ins at the pubs, but after hearing about it in Hogwarts and then after we got married, I am quiet certain that I'm getting tired of hearing that you should be with the boy-who-lived. He's an all right chap but I can safely say that I would rather you had nothing to do with him in that way if you catch my drift. Okay, that sounded a little over protective but I'm sure you can understand my reasoning.

I would think that Ron would let it alone, for your sake as well as his. All right, for myself as well. I can tell you one thing though luv, it will be a long war if he keeps that up. Maybe you could give him what for? He sure as hell won't listen to me and you're the only one he really listens to at all anymore, Gin.

On to better news, though you may have already heard it by the time this letter gets to you. Potter asked Granger to marry him. Of course she said yes, rather enthusiastically by the way. I walked in half way through and nearly made both jump out of their skins. Got Potter to promise to give us good seats at the wedding before stepping out. I have never heard that woman shriek that loud before! Apparently Granger does has a voice that can rise above an annoyed growl.

The only down side to this proposal and usually joyous event (beside the fact that were facing war tomorrow) is that I started thinking. You know what happens when I start thinking, my thoughts always wander to you. This time I thought of our own engagement. Nearly drove me mad within two seconds of the thought entering my mind. I hope you're happy that you have this control over me, no one else has ever possessed it. Well, except one but that was different and we won't think on him.

You know, I never thought I'd have to use this stationary again. I thought I'd be able to spend every day with you and not need a quill and parchment in place of mouthed speech. It's not a happy thought but at least we still have a way to communicate before that too is taken from us.

I'll try to come home as soon as I can luv. I hated walking away from you this morning, you have no idea how hard it was. Hopefully there won't be a need to again.

I love you Ginny, with all my heart and I can't wait to come home. Make sure to be there when I do, or I'll come looking for you and that's a promise. I'll write again soon.

Forever yours

Draco

My breath caught in my throat as I read the letter over a third and fourth time. He'd been gone maybe half a day and I was already going stark raving mad. How is it possible that one man could make me feel this way? I thought no one would ever be able to control my emotions like that again.

I looked around the front room again, letting my eyes scan over the pictures that hung on the pale green walls or sat on the oak mantle over the fireplace. They brought some comfort but not much. I stood and walked over to one in particular. It had taken on the day Draco had proposed. The picture had been shot only a few hours before hand, me still blind to what he had been planning. The day had been amazing. It had started off with breakfast in bed (we'd been living together for a few months by then), then a visit to London where we ate in a recommended Muggle restaurant, the Admiralty, and finished off with a walk along the Brighton beach. Near sunset, he had dropped down on one knee and pulled out a simple silver ring, a thin crimson layer rounding the top and bottom of the band. I found out later this had been chosen because of my colour scheme on the stationary.

"It fits us," he had said though I'd rather not share where he had told me this.

A smile crept onto my lips as his voice floated through my mind.

"You've made me a better man Gin and I don't think I would be the person I am today without you. You make my world one that I want to live in, as long as you're there. I love you so much. Please, make me the luckiest man alive and say that you'll be my wife."

I had never known Draco to ramble before and he told me later that the words he had wanted to say never came out. But that hardly mattered to me. Of course I had said yes. I would have been stupid not to. That was one of the best days of my life, the other one following only a few months later.

Looking at the picture made a harsh pain stab my heart, watching how happy we were together making the distance between us now seem even more unbearable. I wanted him. I wanted him to be home and be safe with me. I wanted him to not have to fight this stupid war and I want him to be out of harms way.

My fists ball at my sides as I fight off my sudden anger towards the ancient headmaster. He had taken so many of my loved ones away; my father, my brothers, Harry who has always been like a brother to me, and now Draco.

"Doesn't he have enough?" I ask through clenched teeth. The only ones who hear my question however were the walls but they offer no relief.

I was close to my point of explosion, fury wrapping in a tight blanket over my heart and before my eyes. A crash sounded from the kitchen, no doubt a plate being thrown against the wall by no visible means. I spun around, ready to throttle something else, when my eyes landed on Draco's letter. The fire inside me was smothered in an instant, replaced by a dull ache. I ran a hand through my hair and let out a soft sigh before reaching out for his letter. Clutching it to my chest, I turn to walk upstairs to find my own crimson-lined paper. The tears were already beginning to fall down my cheeks as I mounted the steps. Just when I thought I'd run dry…