He wore black and I wore white
He would always win the fight

Draco grabbed for Ginny's arm as she headed for the door, but missed, grabbing only air. "Damn it," he muttered.

He followed her, running to catch her by the time she reached the stairs. For the first time he realized how very obsenely large the Malfoy Manor really was. She had reached the door by the time he was close enough to grab her arm gently. "Ginny," he said, stopping her as she tried to pull on her cloak. "Don't go."

The simple words changed something in her face. It looked hurt, and for the first time in a long while, confused. "Why shouldn't I go?" she asked, shaking her head and pulling her arm from his light grip. Unshed tears made her brown eyes bright. More than anything he walked to wrap her in his embrace, but he didn't dare.

"Ginny," he said softly. "I'm asking you to stay because I don't want you to go." He flashed her what he hoped was an irresistible grin. "Please." His voice and attitude had turned to pleading. He hated she could do this to him without trying.

Ginny titled her head to the side. "But Draco, I refused to argue. And I refuse, utterly refuse, to be treated like your whore." The determination in her voice was laced with hurt.

He looked at her bewildered. "But Ginny, you were never my whore. And, if you remember, I wasn't trying to argue. You kept insisting upon it." He thought his words were simple enough and true enough that she would see his point, but her expression became angry and her mannerisms cold.

"Insisted? Draco, I never insisted upon anything! You always won and got what you wanted. For the first time, I'm doing what I want." She reached for the door, but he laid his hand over hers.

"Ginny," he whispered silkily. "Listen to me, I don't mean to argue. I don't always mean to win -" She let out an adorable and unlady-like snort of disbelief. "- but I know I always get my way."

He stared at her in silence for a moment, waiting for her response. When she didn't respond he knew what he had to do. Sighing with disappointment, he explained, "I was going to wait until your birthday to ask, but..." he trailed off as he went down on one knee. Ginny gasped and Draco hoped that was a good sign. "Will you marry me?"

Her hands went to her throat as tears spilled out her eyes.

Quickly he jumped to both his feet and pulled her in his arms. "Ginny, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... Merlin, Ginny, I didn't mean to hurt you."

She laughed, a deliciously beautiful sound. He pushed her away in shock. "Draco!" she exclaimed, laughing still. "Hurt me? Merlin, of course, I'll marry you! But..."

Instead of pulling her into his arms, he stared at her. "But what?" he asked suspiciously.

"You will wear a black tux, I get a white dress, and I get my dream wedding outside."

He grinned at her, pulling her close to him to kiss her. "See, I always win." She just laughed.