Chapter Twenty-Six:

(A/N. Hey everyone. Sorry this took so long. I broke up with my boyfriend and well, it's been a long week. On a good note, I've been asked to co-author a Draco/Hermione story with 9 other of fanfiction.net's best Harry Potter writers. YAY! K, more information later. Enjoy this chapter!!!)

With a sweaty hand, Ginny brushed back her red hair from her face and glanced around. All the Death Eaters lay on the ground in various states of unconsciousness.

"Nice job, Commander Weasley." A soft voice said. Ginny turned with a small smile of satisfaction on her face.

"I'm a commander now?" She asked slyly. Draco sauntered up to her and his eyes roamed over her small frame lazily.

"Oh, yeah. Those were some bloody fine leadership skills. You know, when you're acting all threatening and powerful like that, I don't even feel guilty about liking a Gryffindor." Draco responded his infamous smirk on his face. Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"You like me?" She asked coyly before realizing what she's said. She bit her lip and glanced down at the floor.

"Listen, duck, about the kiss earlier…" Draco began, his elegant voice turned serious now. "I'm sorry that I…" He stammered.

"I don't want you to apologize for kissing me, or to try and drudge up a reason for it." She cut him off, stepping forward until she was directly before him. His aristocratic face didn't change. It remained as unreadable as always but she saw a flicker of pain and fear in his eyes. Emotions she would never have attributed to a Malfoy. Then again, she had learned not to expect anything from him. She smiled. "I just want you to do it again." That was all Draco needed to hear. With his silver eyes dancing merrily he pulled her close. The hand that was on her arm slithered away, wrapping itself securely around her waist and pulling her tightly against him. She smiled as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. The sound of someone pointedly clearing their thought made them pull away slowly. Ginny turned toward the source of the sound and smiled at the Headmaster.

"Hello, sir." She said hesitantly wondering why the Headmaster wanted to speak with them.

"Congratulations, Miss Weasley. I hear you were the one that organized the people here to fight back?" Dumbledore said. Ginny blushed and nodded, clutching Draco's hand tighter.

"Yes, sir."

"That was very well done. I hope we won't have use of you skills in battle again, but thank you all the same." The Headmaster continued. Ginny nodded mutely. Dumbledore's eyes turned to Draco. "Now if I may have a moment alone with Mr. Malfoy?" He asked. She turned to Draco questioningly but found his eyes fixed on the old man. Draco nodded slowly. She took her cue and walked away.

Silver eyes stared into piercing blue. Draco couldn't pull his eyes away from Dumbledore's. A million thoughts rushed through his head, his mind too tired to process them all.

"Sir?" He asked softly, wondering why the Headmaster wanted to speak to him alone.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm sure you are aware that I am in close contact with Mr. Potter?" He asked.

Draco suppressed a snarl and nodded. "Yes."

"Well he informed me of your father's…suspicious dealings. I believe he mentioned on one occasion that you alluded to your father being a Death Eater. Now, I want you to tell me truthfully, was your father a Death Eater?" Dumbledore asked. Draco sighed inwardly, finally understanding why Dumbledore had come to talk to him. Knowing that they might have found his father's comatose body and were testing his loyalties, Draco was hesitant when he answered.

"Yes." He responded finally. Dumbledore nodded sagely and Draco hoped he had given the correct answer. Truth had never come easy for him. He had been trained to lie, and he did it well.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy. I believe that every Death Eater stayed until the end, when Mr. Potter and I defeated Lord Voldemort. However, your father's body was not among the ones that now lie unconscious in preparation to being taken to Azkaban." Dumbledore said softly. Draco couldn't respond. Too many revelations. Harry sodding Potter had saved the day again. Voldemort was dead. His father was gone.

Glancing back at Draco and Dumbledore, Ginny felt a pang in her heart. A hand ruffled her hair and Ginny caught the hand and turned.

"Hey, Gin." Colin smiled pulling his hand away and pulled her a bone crushing embrace. "It's good to see you again."

"Uh, Colin. I need oxygen." She gasped and with a laugh Colin released her. Ginny smiled up at her friend then her smile disappeared. "Have you seen my brother?" She asked and Colin smiled reassuringly.

"Your brother, Harry, and Hermione are fine. I told you Harry would save the day again." Colin said. Ginny let out a strangled laugh as relief flooded through her.

"So how'd he do it this time?" Ginny asked allowing a smile to spread across her face.

"It seems Harry, Hermione, and Ron have been training with Dumbledore in Defence against the Dark Arts. Well, Harry and Dumbledore performed an extremely rare spell which brought Voldemort to the final death. The spell drained Harry however and so he's resting in the infirmary with Hermione and Ron." Colin said glancing around at the room. "The casualties and injuries were high, Ginny, but we made it. We won this war."

"Yes, we did." Ginny smiled and then glanced back at Draco and Dumbledore and frowned. Draco was staring at the elder man a horrified look on his face. A second later Draco fell onto his knees and dropped his head into his hands.