The Devils Triangle
Chapter 16: Christmas
In the days leading up to Christmas Harry and Ginny spent countless hours together in Ginny's Bower. Harry had been eagerly awaiting their return to the Burrow and to the private sanctuary where he first began to fall in love with Ginny. Although it was cold and snowy outside, the Bower protected them from the elements… it was almost like looking out from inside a snow globe, only in reverse.
They took their time adjusting to the new relationship, and the Bower helped in this regard. Although lying together in the hammock provided intimacy and privacy, it was logistically difficult to do anything more than kissing.
Harry was very cautious in his exploration of Ginny, both physically and emotionally. He didn't want to rush her and most of all he didn't want to jeopardize the friendship that had come to mean everything to him. But, even Harry Potter had his limitations and he was currently exploring his way down the buttons of Ginny blouse.
When he unfastened the third button, his fingers found a smooth crystal on a chain around her neck. She had returned Harry's crystal to him before they returned to the Burrow. He stopped kissing her to look at it.
"They gave you an emergency Portkey too. I didn't know that."
"Mmmm," Ginny acknowledged while nuzzling his neck, trying to encourage him to return to his previous activity. "I don't know why, must be because I spend so much time with you."
"I suppose," Harry mumbled, mentally kicking himself for never warning Ginny about the danger she was in. Obviously, the Order had never told her either.
"Harry…you're allowed to touch me," she whispered, placing Harry's hand over her perfect breast.
Harry resumed his kissing duties, while his fingers made quick work of Ginny's remaining buttons and then his hand returned to Ginny's breast. What he felt was impossibly soft and magnificently smooth and Harry interrupted another kiss to look at what his fingers were feeling. When Harry realized what he was looking at he paused, and his jaw clenched almost imperceptivity.
Ginny was wearing the most exquisite sapphire brassiere Harry had ever seen. Even to his inexperienced eye, he knew it wasn't anything that Ginny could have purchased for herself. The unwelcome thought ran through his head that Ginny may as well be wearing a sign saying 'MALFOY WAS HERE!'
"Harry? Is everything alright?"
"Hmm?" Harry snapped out of his introspective pout. "I was just thinking about how beautiful you are. It's hard to believe we're finally together."
Ginny only half believed him, but she chose to not pursue that conversation directly.
"Harry?"
"Yeah, Gin?" He tentatively began to trace his finger in small circles over the fabric of her bra, and felt her nipple harden beneath it. It aroused him immediately.
"Have you talked to Ron about him and Hermione?"
"How do you mean?" Harry asked cautiously, tenderly kissing her neck.
"You know… boy talk, about what they get up to."
"No!" Harry said adamantly. "I don't want to know about that, Gin!"
"I think they've done it, you know, don't you? He is such a hypocritical git!" Ginny grumbled.
"Ginny," Harry whined, "don't tell me that!"
"I can't help it… he's such an arse! He goes all ballistic when he thinks that I've done it at the Three Broomsticks and then he turns around and bonks Hermione."
"Ginny! Please, no!" Harry begged. Thinking about Ginny's exploits with Malfoy, as well as the private activities of his two best friends did not set the appropriate mood.
"Get over it, Harry. I want to talk about this."
"Alright," Harry groaned, stopping his finger from its circular path. "I didn't realize you were still so pissed at him, it was almost two months ago! He didn't mean the things he said to you Ginny. He was just obsessed about the Quidditch match and worried that you'd get hurt. Besides, he and Hermione are in love. I don't think Ron can even begin to fathom that what you had with Malfoy was real." Harry thought, but couldn't bring himself to say that he felt that way too, but Ginny knew the truth.
"It was real, Harry," Ginny said wistfully. "It was complicated, but it was real." Ginny looked into Harry's cautiously guarded eyes before continuing. "We didn't… you know… have sex. You probably think we did. Everyone else does."
Harry didn't think it wise to mention his previous conversation with Draco on this topic, so he nodded.
"You spent the night with him in a tavern Gin, so it's the logical conclusion. You must have done more than sleep," Harry said testily, pulling his hand completely away from her breast.
"We did... in a way, we made love but we just didn't have sex. It all gets a bit semantic, I suppose."
"Yeah," Harry growled uncomfortably, while wondering where this conversation was leading. His arousal was now completely gone, and she'd just told him way more than he wanted to know.
"Have you, Harry? Did you and Daphne…"
"No," he interrupted, "not even close. It wasn't fair to her; I liked her, but I only ever thought about you."
"Oh," she said, overwhelmed with emotion, but also surprised by how relieved she was. "But then, why don't you…I mean…except for just now, you hardly ever touch me. At the house you never touch me, and here we only kiss. I'm not complaining, I love kissing you," she added quickly.
"I just don't want to rush you. And back at the Burrow, well, it's your parents' house; they've been so good to me. I can't maul their only daughter under their roof, as much as I'd like to. I don't want to force you into anything you're not ready for. I don't want to be like him…"
"Oh Gods, Harry! You're still talking about Draco. Why is it that no matter who my boyfriend is, there always seems to be three of us in the relationship? Why can't this be about just you and me?"
Harry shrugged.
"I'll go through this once! Draco is not a monster, no matter how much you believe him to be. He never forced me to do anything I didn't want to do; in fact, he's the one who slowed us down most of the time…"
"Alright then," Harry interrupted, completely tired of this topic. "Can we stop talking about the Ferret and go back to what we were doing? I promise I'll be less of a gentleman."
"Good then," Ginny grinned, pulling his head back down to her level. "Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you… Draco's coming to the Burrow for Christmas tomorrow."
"WHAT?"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
When Draco flued into the kitchen of the Burrow on Christmas morning it took every ounce of his willpower to not turn around and flue back to Grimmauld Place.
What the Bloody Hell am I doing here?
He looked around at the much patched and wobbly furniture and inhaled the many delicious scents wafting from the oven; the cluttered, treacley hominess of the place made him uncomfortable in way that he'd never experienced before. Even the shabby but cheerful Christmas tree made him wonder if he'd gone completely around the bend. He was accustomed to elegant, perfectly trimmed Christmas trees accompanied by proper celebrations attended by all the right people.
And to think I'm avoiding yet another summons by the Dark Lord to be HERE.
"Draco!" Ginny shrieked, as she ran into the room and threw her arms around him.
"Hello, Young Lady," he said, returning the hug, as a wide, involuntary grin spread across his face. "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas! Are these for me?" she asked relieving him of the now crushed packages in his arms.
"No! Not all of them anyway. Keep out of them, you moppet! Where is everyone anyway? I thought this place would be swarming with Weasleys."
"They're all out playing Quidditch," she said grumpily. "Bloody sexist if you ask me. I'm stuck in here with Mum and all the boys get to go out to play."
"Yeah…it's an outrage. Quidditch you said?"
"Yes, and I have strict instructions to send you out as soon as you get here. Ron despises you, but he still wants you on his team. You can use my broom; it's by the door over there."
"Excellent," he said glowing. "I'll see you in a bit, then."
"Be careful," she called after him. "You haven't experienced dirty Quidditch until you've played a Weasley game. The Gryffindor-Slytherin match can't hold a candle to a Weasley game. We use it to purge old grudges, so it can get quite bloody, and you have quite a few enemies out there."
"Sounds better and better!" he called over his shoulder as he jumped on Ginny's Firebolt and sped towards the pitch.
Later that afternoon Ginny was horrified by what she saw returning from the Quidditch pitch.
On one hand, the boys were all jovial and laughing. On the other hand, Harry and Draco were so covered in blood as to be almost unrecognizable.
"Merlin! What have you done to each other?"
"It's nothing, Gin. Just a little fun," Draco chuckled as he patted her on the head in passing.
"DRACO!" Ginny screamed. "Do you know that your nose is sitting sideways on your face right now?"
"Is it? How 'bout that! Good work Potter! Gin, your dad put a pain-free charm on us so we could keep playing. I didn't even notice."
"DADDY! How could you let them beat-up on each other like this?"
Mr. Weasley shrugged. "They seemed to be having a good time, Kitten. Sometimes boys just have to work these things out amongst themselves," he said as he rummaged through the potions cabinet."
"Daddy!"
"Unfortunately we're going to need your mother to put them back together though… this is her specialty. Molly!" he called up the stairs.
"Thathhhh's a good luk fa ya Mahoy…not ho poohy!" Harry tried to say as blood drooled down his chin.
"You wish I were a poof, Potter," Draco retaliated.
"Harry!" Ginny gasped. "Where are all your teeth?"
"White here," Harry grinned toothlessly as he showed a horrified Ginny a fistful of dislodged teeth and Draco collapsed laughing.
"MUM! HURRY!"
"ARTHUR WEASLEY! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, sending all the able bodied Weasley men scrambling to the far corners of the house. "You were supposed to be refereeing this game!"
Mr. Weasley blanched, and immediately shifted gears. "You've never seen such shocking behavior, Molly! You boys should be ashamed!"
"Really, Arthur! Is this how you're planning to deal with all of Ginny's boyfriends? Just let them murder each other in the garden?"
"Seemed like a good idea at the time," Mr. Weasley mumbled weakly as he too fled the room.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny made quick work of putting the boys right again. Draco and Harry continued to spar verbally over the kitchen table during their healing ministrations, but Ginny noticed that something was different in their countenance; their words were harsh and often cruel, but there was an edge missing in their tone. If she didn't know better she might have mistaken it for friendly banter. Ginny tried to make sense of it all, but she came to only one conclusion.
"Boys are weird," she grumbled under her breath.
"Yes, dear," her Mum agreed, the edges of her mouth twitching a bit. "Right then, you boys are fixed. You have half an hour till dinner. Now get out of my kitchen."
"Malfoy!" Ron called from the lounge. "Chess?"
"In a bit," Draco answered. "I have some business with your brothers first."
"Which brothers? And what business?" Ginny asked.
"I'll play with you, Ron," Harry called and departed to the lounge.
"Fred and George, and it's none of your business, Young Lady," Draco teased as he pulled a leather bound portfolio from the bundle of packages he'd brought with him. "They said I should meet them in their old room, so would you kindly show me where that would be?"
"No. Not until you tell me what this is about."
"This isn't exactly a mansion, Brat, I'll find it myself," he said as he bound up the stairs with Ginny in pursuit.
"Harry," Ron said cautiously. "You at all concerned that your girlfriend just headed to the bedrooms with Malfoy?"
"Not really, no." Harry said, concentrating on the chessboard.
"Why not? I wouldn't let Hermione alone with him, and she hates him. Gods, I wish she were here! Why'd she have to spend Christmas with her parents, anyway?"
"First, I trust Ginny, she loves me, and I know that. Second, Malfoy's a chess player and he won't make a move until he sees a way to win the game; timing's all wrong for him. And third, they're Hermione's parents Ron… she has to visit them occasionally. By the way, your attempts to distract me from our game are not working. "
"Is this your room, Weaslette?" Draco smirked as he barged through Ginny's door. "Look at all the pictures, aren't we popular?" he taunted, eyeing the massive photo collage of Ginny with her school mates. "You don't have any of me though. I'm hurt; after all we've been through together."
"No one's allowed in my room, Malfoy," Ginny pouted.
Draco continued to peruse the room, picking up items at random. "I bet you let Potter in whenever he wants. If you'd just tell me where the twins are, I wouldn't resort to snooping. But as you won't tell… I'll bet you have a diary around here somewhere. The past few months should make some interesting reading over dinner with your family," Draco snickered as he started to rummage through Ginny's bedside table.
"Alright! Come with me!" Ginny grabbed Draco by the ear and tugged.
"Damn, Gin! I hate it when you do this!" Draco shrieked as he was led from Ginny's room.
Once inside the twins' room, he managed to shove an unwilling Ginny back outside and shut the door behind her.
"I assume the two of you already have adequate security on this door, yes?" Draco asked the two very curious looking twins.
Fred and George looked at each other approvingly.
"He doesn't underestimate us," said Fred.
"We like that," George finished.
"What I want to propose to you today, gentlemen, requires the utmost secrecy. It could get me killed and could either make you very rich men or send you to Azkaban. Do you wish me to continue?"
"Our curiosity…" said Fred.
"…is peaked! Do go on," encouraged George.
"My secretary and I have been reviewing Malfoy holdings over the past several months. There are several companies I have decided to close, either because they are not profitable or for a variety of other reasons. One of these companies has an extensive inventory of raw material that I need to liquidate. It's not material I can sell openly, and honestly it's not the sort of stuff I would like to see end up in the wrong hands."
Draco handed the twins the portfolio he had been carrying. "Do think the two of you could do anything with the items on this list?"
Fred and George let out a simultaneous low whistle.
"These are all…"
"… Class A1 …"
"… Ministry Regulated…"
"… highly dangerous…"
"… used to make nasty Dark Magic…" said Fred with a glint in his eyes.
"…but, could also be used in other ways…" continued George, with an equally mischievous expression.
"Fun ways…"
"The things we could do with this, Gred…"
"… are endless, Forge."
"But…alas…"
"… can't afford them…" Fred handed the list back to Draco.
"I never said anything about money," Draco smirked. "If you're interested, I think we can make an equitable business arrangement. I could consider this an investment."
"You know Gred, the Ferret is starting to grow on me."
"I agree, I think our little Ginny may've had a positive influence on him."
"Whatever your sister and I shared has nothing to do with my political tendencies, I assure you. Let's leave Ginny out of this."
"What are your terms, Malfoy?"
"Ten percent of the gross profit for the first three years in which a product developed with my ingredients is on the market, five percent in each subsequent year."
"Gred?"
"Forge?"
"Deal Malfoy," they said simultaneously.
"Good then, I'll have my firm draw up the contracts."
"But, You-Know-Who…"
"… won't be pleased."
"It's fairly obvious…"
"… these were being used…"
"… to promote his own brand of mischief."
"Voldemort - " The twins flinched at the sound of his name. " - is going to have to learn to live with disappointment," Draco said darkly. "The Malfoy estate will no longer be supporting him."
"That means you're on our side!"
"That means I'm neutral," Draco said firmly. "I believe your mother said dinner should be ready about now. I've been raised to not keep my hostess waiting."
The three wizards stood and shook hands.
"Keep your head down, Malfoy."
"This could get ugly for you."
"I know."
Christmas dinner went very well, with everyone having a good time and behaving themselves as best as could be expected. Ron grumbled a bit about the newly formed mysterious alliance between Draco and the twins.
"I was looking forward to them turning him into a garden gnome," he grumbled. "Something's not right here."
Unfortunately, while everyone was enjoying their pudding and opening presents, Mr. Weasley interrupted.
"I'm sorry everyone, I've just received an emergency summons. All Order members are to report to Grimmauld Place. And Draco, I think you should return with us, for safety's sake."
The Weasley family sprang into action, preparing to leave.
"Don't worry about the mess Mum. Harry, Ron and I will clean up."
"Thank you, dear. Don't stay up too late," said Mrs. Weasley, before she and the elder Weasleys slipped through the flue.
Ginny gave Draco a hug goodbye.
"Thanks for inviting me, Gin. I had fun, I mean it."
"You're welcome. I guess I'll see you back at school then. I wish I knew why they called the meeting. I hope nothing's terribly wrong."
"Nah. They do this all the time, they're a twitchy crew. Don't worry," Draco kissed her forehead and disappeared into the fireplace.
Harry, Ginny and Ron finished the washing up and then Ron grumbled something about owling Hermione before disappearing to his room.
Harry flashed Ginny a mischievous grin, which worried her a bit.
"Hey, Ginny."
"Yes, Harry?" she asked with a smirk.
"I have an extremely special Christmas present for you. Didn't I promise you something yesterday?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Harry chuckled at the bright shade of red that Ginny's face had turned and he fixed his most intense gaze on her, willing her to crumble. Unbeknownst to Harry, it was the same tendency that Malfoy loved… that Ginny could go from brazen and confident one moment, to shy and blushing the next.
"Something about being less of a gentleman, I think?" he asked while rubbing his hands along her ribcage and allowing his thumbs to stop and caress the sides of her breasts.
"Oh… that… has… possibilities," Ginny said mentally kicking herself, because her brain had seized up on her.
Harry kissed Ginny tenderly while backing her up against the sofa, removing her jumper and unbuttoning her blouse. Harry sat on the sofa and pulled Ginny down to straddle his hips, all the while, kissing her and swiftly relieving her of her bra. Maneuvering on a sofa was so much easier than in a hammock, and Harry was soon lavishing Ginny's breasts with kisses, nipping and suckling until she moaned with pleasure.
"Oh, Gods… Harry."
"Lie back," he commanded, while gently easing her down and then removing his own shirt. Harry lay with her and continued to explore her very slowly. Ginny returned his kisses passionately and he was quite sure she had left a bruise or two on his neck. Harry worked his way down her torso, learning every curve of her breast and angle of her ribcage. His tongue laved over her stomach and bellybutton until the subtle undulation of her hips encouraged him to unfasten her jeans and further his exploration.
It wasn't until Harry sat up to help remove Ginny's jeans that he looked around and his senses returned to him.
"Ginny, we have to stop."
"What?" she squeaked.
"This is your parent's house, I can't do this here. And Ron could come down for a late-night snack at any moment. It's not right."
"What?" she repeated helplessly.
"I'm sorry… I'm going to bed. Good night." With that, Harry pulled himself away, grabbed his shirt and bolted from the room.
Ginny collapsed back onto the sofa in a daze, trying to wrap her muddled mind around what had just happened. How could he leave her hanging like this, so unsatisfied? Suddenly she knew what she must do.
"This isn't over, Harry Potter," she mumbled and made her way to her own room.
A little while later Ginny appeared at Harry's bedroom door.
"Harry?" Ginny whispered in the darkness.
Harry turned toward her voice, and in the moonlight he beheld the vision that had ensnared his dreams for months; the sight of Ginny with her hair loose around her shoulders, wearing that rattiest of Chudley Cannons shirt and boxers that barely had the will to stay on; Harry's body reacted instantly. The sleeves of the shirt had recently been torn off and the tank top was so worn and small it left absolutely nothing to the imagination. She approached his bed with an innocent smile and a naughty twinkle in her eyes. Harry unconsciously wrapped his covers around him more tightly.
"Gin… this isn't a good idea," he croaked, as she tugged the blanket away from him and crawled into bed with him.
"I'm cold," she whimpered pathetically. "You don't want me to be cold, do you?" She snuggled up against him and Harry cursed himself for not putting on his pajamas, he was wearing only boxers.
"Gin… your parents…" he protested.
"Are gone," she interrupted. "Won't be home for hours. Just Ron in the house, and he sleeps like the dead."
"But…"
"… it's their house, I know." Ginny finished for him, and then she ran her tongue along the rim of his ear and nibbled his earlobe.
"Yes, and…"
"… they've been very good to you." She ran her hand over his chest, teasing each of his nipples lightly and fingering the outline of the crystal around his neck.
"YES!" he tried to protest again. She ran her smooth leg up, between Harry's legs and when her thigh met his hips she smirked to discover that although he was protesting loudly, his body certainly wasn't. She left her leg there, while her fingers continued to play with his chest and she attacked his neck with her mouth; Ginny used every weapon she had to shatter Harry's willpower.
"And you really shouldn't disrespect them by sullying their beloved virginal daughter."
"Yes! I mean… no! Oh, Gods!"
"I want to be good to you too, Harry," she murmured in the sultriest voice she could manage with a straight face.
Harry blamed Malfoy for this! Where did innocent, blushing Ginny go? He didn't want to think about the details too deeply, but he was sure it was his fault!
"Oh! Bugger!" Harry exclaimed as his last shred of resolve crumbled.
Ginny squealed with glee as Harry grabbed her and rolled until he had her pinned happily beneath him.
The crumbling of the last of Harry's resolve also brought down the last vestiges of shyness or reservation, and it brought forward the lust he had been holding at bay for months. Ginny gasped in pleasure at the intensity of Harry's attentions, a hundred fold over just a few minutes ago. She suddenly realized how completely she had relied on Draco to be the keeper of self-control, and she had no idea if Harry had the same intention or ability.
"Mmmm… Harry, wait…" Ginny gasped, when she was finally given a chance to breathe. She rolled out from under him and straddled his hips.
"Harry, wait… I have an idea… I know you don't want my parents to think you took advantage of me."
"Not caring about that at the moment, Gin," Harry said reaching up to grasp the lovely breasts teasing him through her shirt.
"But you're the victim here, Harry," Ginny giggled as she removed Harry's hands and placed them over his head, while undulating her hips in a way that made a helpless cross-eyed groan escape Harry's lips. "You were safely tucked away in your own bed, when a wicked and shameless girl attacked you. Isn't that right?" Harry tried several times to touch Ginny, but each time she removed his hands and placed them above his head. Then, she let her hand roam into Harry's boxers to assist her hips in the task of driving him further over the edge.
"Wicked," groaned Harry. "Wicked, bordering on evil at the moment. Please, Gin, let me touch you, please."
Ginny nodded her acceptance and Harry's hands returned to her body, one to her breast, while the other slid inside her underwear.
Ginny groaned as her hips began to move in time with Harry's hand. "Oh Gods, that's nice Harry." Ginny's hands smoothed over Harry's chest as she leaned over him to concentrate on the intense pleasure he was giving her while Harry's second hand joined the first in administering to her. Her eyes closed and her groans came louder and faster as her hips reacted more violently to Harry's efforts.
"Oh yes… please… Oh Harry…yes…ahhhhh."
"Let yourself go, Gin," he said in awe, he had never seen anything as beautiful as the sight of Ginny above him moaning in pleasure that HE was giving her, and he redoubled his efforts.
Ginny's body convulsed in ecstasy, and a joyful scream emanated from her core, but just as she reached her peak she unwittingly grasped Harry's chest and the crystal hanging around his neck.
"Ginny! NO!" Harry screamed, but it was too late, the crystal had broken and the tug of the Portkey activating merely intensified the shudders streaming through Ginny's last nerve and her screams heightened as their bodies passed instantly through time and space.
The first sensation that Harry felt was the cold hard stone of the Grimmauld Place kitchen floor beneath his bare back.
The second sensation was that of severe panic as he let his eyes wander about the room to realize that he was the center of attention in a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. He quickly recognized the white face of Ginny's father, the red face of Ginny's mother and the grey face of Professor McGonagall. Bill and Charlie also wore shocked expressions. In fact, no one in the room looked terribly healthy at that moment except, of course, Professor Dumbledore and the Weasley twins, who looked as though they had received a belated Christmas present.
The third thing Harry noticed was the fact the he couldn't move; Ginny was still straddled on top of him, her thighs squeezing him as though he were a bucking horse. She was squeezing so tightly he found it difficult to extract his hands from Ginny's underwear. Ginny was frozen; pale and lifeless her eyes locked in Professor Snape's death-glare. It was as if she were in a catatonic state.
"Ginny," he whispered desperately. "Ginny, love, you have to get up… Ginny I can't move."
Just as Harry's panic began to get the better of him, rescue came from an unlikely source; Fred swooped in and quickly lifted Ginny into his arms and then George pulled Harry to his feet and firmly lead him out of the kitchen. They were out of the room before any other witness of the incident had the time to gather their senses and react to what they had just seen.
Fred brought Ginny to the nearest bedchamber on the first floor, that one being the same room which Draco was currently occupying.
"Bloody Hell! D'you people ever hear of knocking?" Draco shrieked groggily as he sat up in bed and tried to adjust his eyes to the sudden light in the room.
"Ginny!" Draco exclaimed, as Fred deposited her limply on the foot of the bed and tried to get her attention to focus, but she was completely unresponsive and just curled into a fetal position, never acknowledging anyone around her.
"What's wrong with her? And why is she half naked?" Draco then noticed Harry in the room, clad only in boxers. "Potter, what did you do to her?" he growled as he burst out of the bed to confront Harry.
"Sod off, Malfoy," Harry blustered in desperation, as he pushed past Draco to get to Ginny. The last thing Harry needed right now was to answer to Malfoy for his actions.
Before Draco could react, George stepped in and gently but firmly guided Draco out of the room. "Let's leave the lovebirds alone for a moment, shall we? Come with me outside and I'll bring you up to speed."
"Gin… Gin, are you alright?" Harry asked once they were alone, but Ginny was still unresponsive and only curled into a tighter ball.
"Ginny, I'm so sorry. Please let me help you!" Harry pleaded, but to no avail. After several minutes of attempting to rouse Ginny from her stupor, Harry gave up. He was sure Mrs. Weasley would have something to help Ginny, but dreaded asking her.
Harry found Draco waiting outside the room as he exited.
"Any luck?" Draco asked.
"No, she's not responding. I'm going to her mother to get a draught. I'm surprised she hasn't been up here already."
"Fred and George are fending off the in-laws Potter, trying to give you a few more minutes to live. But do, go talk to them if you like," Draco smirked.
"Ginny needs a draught, I don't have a choice," he said glumly.
Draco looked at Ginny's limp and unresponsive body on the bed.
"You're right, go get the draught. But wait, you idiot, don't go traipsing about the house in your underwear. Come here."
Draco rummaged through his trunk and pulled out a pair of jeans for Harry and some adjustable trakkie bottoms for Ginny.
"Hey Gin, which jumper do you think I should give Scarhead, here?" Ginny didn't react. "Come on Gin, I've got one with a great Snake on it, and the other is the lovely one your Mum gave me for Christmas." Draco held up the two jumpers with a grin. "Actually I'll give the snake to Potter, and the Christmas jumper to you Gin, then I'll have no chance of getting it back. Everybody wins!"
Draco tossed the clothes at Harry who put them on with reluctant gratitude. Draco then put Ginny's clothes on the bed and sat down next to her and began to stroke her hair.
Harry glared suspiciously at Draco, as if unwilling to leave her alone with him.
"Go get the draught, Potter. Now!" he hissed and Harry reluctantly left.
"Come on Weaslette! That's enough! This is silly! On your feet, get a grip on yourself!" Draco commanded as he pulled Ginny up from her prone position on the bed. When she didn't seem willing or able to stand on her own two legs he softened a bit and hugged her tightly.
"Please, Gin," he whispered softly to her. "It's not that bad… quite nauseating, but not tragic." This seemed to do the trick…it not only pulled Ginny out of her stupor, it also enraged her.
"Not that bad? NOT THAT BAD?" she screamed as she pushed Draco away, stood on her own feet and turned her anger on him with tears running down her face. "What the bloody hell does that mean? I just had a screaming orgasm, on a kitchen floor, in front of every adult I know! Including my parents and four of my brothers! Fred and George were there for Merlin's sake! They're being sweet now, but they won't forget about this any time soon! No one will! NOT THAT BAD? How could it be worse?"
"Well," Draco said calmly and quietly, stepping towards her and gathering his arms again. "Well, it could have been worse, you weren't actually…" Draco paused to steel himself against the images running through his head. "You still had your knickers on, didn't you? And your shirt, such as it is. You weren't actually…" Words failed him; he decided to take another tack. "At least it was the Golden Boy you were riding home. It could have been me. That would have been worse! Imagine the heart attacks in the grand old Order if they'd seen some of the things we've gotten up to."
Draco chuckled as Ginny lifted her tear streaked face from his shoulder in horror. "I would've loved to have seen the look on Snape's face down there! He must have been positively puckered! Or McGonagall's!" He was relieved to see Ginny crack a smile and chuckle a bit. "That's my good girl," he said kissing her forehead.
"Here Gin, I have a draught for you," Harry said cautiously as he reentered the room to find Ginny in Draco's arms.
"She's alright now, Potter. Ginny, go to the loo, get dressed, and wash your face." Draco said while turning Ginny away, pressing the clothes into her arms and pushing her towards the door. "And throw away that disgusting shirt! It's positively indecent!"
"Don't tell her to throw away that shirt!" Harry shrieked once Ginny had left the room. "I love that shirt! Been watching her grow into it for years!"
"Perv. If you insist on using her for eye-candy, at least buy her something suitable at Madame Malkim's."
"Yes, I do believe I've seen your idea of 'suitable' on her," Harry said snidely, and then, suddenly feeling light-headed, sat abruptly on the bed.
"Lucky you," Draco quipped dryly. "Potter? Potter, you alright? You've gone an odd shade of puce, suddenly."
"Oh fuck! Fuck! I don't believe what just happened! The Weasley's are going to hate me! Well, that won't matter, because they're going to kill me first."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Merlin. Could you have your anxiety attack somewhere else? I want to go to bed."
Harry ignored Draco and continued his own train of thought. "I don't even know what happened, suddenly she was there and I tried to stop her… I think, but she…" Harry suddenly realized who he was talking to and stopped. "I'd better go."
"Please, do."
As Harry left the room Draco stopped him.
"Potter, you do realize what else happened here tonight, don't you?" Draco asked with a Slytherin smirk.
"What are you on about Malfoy?" Harry sighed.
"Tonight, you couldn't comfort her. I did."
"So?"
"Don't you see? Do you know what I have?"
"A big ego and a bad attitude?" Harry snapped.
"Besides those," Draco drawled.
"What, Malfoy? What do you have?"
"The Power Position. It's mine now," he chuckled. "You didn't think I was going to fade into history like a polite ex-boyfriend should, did you? I'd appreciate it if you left, Potter, I'm tired. You should take your girlfriend home and put her to bed. Alone." Draco said smugly, as he got into bed and extinguished the lights.
Harry stood there in disbelief… Ginny was right. No matter who her boyfriend is, there always seems to be three people in the relationship. And now, Malfoy was waiting in the wings for Ginny when he, Harry James Potter, fucked up so he could reclaim his position as Ginny's boyfriend. It left a major pit in his stomach when he'd thought it could be no worse.
Harry collected Ginny, and in order to flue back to the Burrow. Luckily the meeting seemed to have disbanded. Fred told them to go to bed, and he said that Ginny's parents were with Professor Dumbledore and wouldn't be home until late.
"Of course, they'll want to see you both first thing in the morning though," Fred added with a chuckle. Still numb and in shock, they flued back to the Burrow.
"I'm so sorry, Gin," Harry whispered desperately outside Ginny's bedroom, as he returned her there. She had still not said a word to him.
Finally, Ginny broke her silence. "It's not your fault Harry, I'm the one who started it. I'm the one who broke the crystal. I'll make sure my parents know it wasn't your fault, don't worry."
"I don't care about that, Gin. I mean, I do but are you alright? Are we?"
"Of course we are, Harry. I was just embarrassed, but I was never angry with you. In fact, what happened between us was absolutely lovely." Ginny stood on her toes and gave Harry a tender kiss. "Go to bed, Harry, and try to get some sleep. We have to deal with my parents in the morning," she said glumly as she disappeared into the darkness of her bedroom.
Harry slept fitfully and morning came far too quickly. Harry dressed reluctantly and mentally prepared himself for a brutal day.
"Shall we face the firing squad together, Harry?" Ginny asked with giggle. Harry thought she looked wonderful, like she didn't have a concern in the world.
"Any idea how bad it'll be, Gin?" he asked as he took her hand and they started to the kitchen together.
"Don't know really. I'd say best case scenario we get a severe tongue lashing and some sort of disgusting household chore to complete. Worst case scenario, I get sent off to Beauxbatons next term."
"They wouldn't!"
"We'll know shortly."
They were surprised to find Hermione in the kitchen when they arrived, sitting next to an ecstatic and doting Ron.
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" Ginny asked happily.
"She's come for the fireworks, just like us! Right, George?" Fred quipped as he piled his plate full of eggs.
"I received an owl from Professor Dumbledore in the middle of the night, telling me I might be needed here this morning," Hermione said vaguely.
"Morning, Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley said as she entered the kitchen, she looked pale and drawn, like she hadn't a moment of sleep. Harry thought she looked as though she had the weight of the world on her shoulders suddenly. "Morning, Ginny. I trust you both slept well? Harry, Mr. Weasley is in his study, he'd like a word with you."
Ginny smiled supportively as Harry as lumbered towards the study.
"Ginny, a word please," her mother continued. Ginny gave the snickering twins a withering glare as she followed her mother out of the room.
Twenty minutes later they both returned to the kitchen table, Ginny looking thoroughly pleased and Harry looking thoroughly confused. Mr. Weasley also joined them, tucking into his breakfast full of visible relief.
"Well? How'd it go?" Ginny asked in a whisper.
"Fine, just lots of nonsense about adult responsibilities and respect. No yelling at all. I don't understand," Harry whispered back, utterly confused.
"Same with me, and she gave me this." Ginny reached in her pocket and pulled out a vile. "It's contraceptive potion. Incredibly odd… they're being unusually cool."
"Too cool," Harry added suspiciously, then in a full voice and an accusatory tone turned to Mr. Weasley and said, "Wait a minute. That's it? You're just handing us a contraceptive potion and telling us to run along? That is not what normal parents do!"
"Harry!" Ginny whispered fiercely. "What's wrong with you? Are you mad? This is a good thing! Let it go!"
"No. There's something else going on here, something they're not telling us," Harry insisted. "Tell me, Mr. Weasley. You were talking to Professor Dumbledore last night, what did he tell you?"
Mr. Weasley glanced pleadingly at Hermione, who took the opportunity to step in.
"You're right, Harry. There is something you and Ginny should know. I've been noticing changes in you since the summer, your ease at memorizing lessons, and all of your magical powers. Harry, have you noticed that your power corresponds to your relationship with Ginny? The closer the two of you become, the more your power seems to grow. I think Ginny's power is beginning to grow as well."
"Have you gone 'round the bend Hermione?" Ron scoffed. Then, he looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, I suppose there is that energy thing."
"What are you both talking about? What energy thing, Ron?" Harry asked in a breathless tone.
"Well, sometimes, when the two of you are together you kind of create a palpable energy," Ron said almost apologetically. "Like at the D.A. meeting after Ginny conjured her first Patronus."
"That's insane, Ron." Ginny whispered.
"If you don't believe me, ask your friend Malfoy. I'm pretty sure he could feel it; personally, I think that's why he buggered off so easily."
"So we have chemistry, so what?" Harry said impatiently. "What are you trying to say Hermione? Ginny and I may be cute together, but I know this isn't about my love life. What is this about?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "I think, and Professor Dumbledore agrees, that you and Ginny are soul mates."
"Uh-huh… and?" Harry asked coldly.
Hermione's voice became very quiet as she continued; she had always predicted that Harry wouldn't take this news well. "And the research that I've been doing all year, about Carina DeFlorette trying to harness the power of love? The missing ingredient is the power that you and Ginny can generate. With that we can kill him."
"You think I'd use Ginny like that? You've been planning to use Ginny all along?" Harry said visibly shaken and obviously approaching the edge. "No! She's my girlfriend, not my comrade-in-arms."
"I can be both," Ginny added defiantly.
"No." Harry turned on Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, he was shaking and his face was red, his rage was barely contained. "Is this what Dumbledore told you last night? That your daughter is destined to be some sort of secret weapon against Voldemort?"
"Something like that," Mr. Weasley said quietly.
"And so now you're willing to sacrifice your only daughter to the cause." he spat harshly. "Like some sort of virgin sacrifice. DON'T YOU SEE HOW SICK THAT IS? IT'S AS BAD AS WHAT THEY DO ON THE OTHER SIDE!" Harry's control was gone and he had tears openly rolling down his cheeks.
"Harry, wait. It's not that bad," Ginny tried to soothe him.
"NO, GINNY! No, I won't let you. Don't you see… you're all I have? Our love is the only thing I have that has nothing to do with him! I won't let them turn it into a weapon."
"Harry, you don't understand…" Hermione tried to explain.
"No, Hermione! We'll find another way, or I won't be involved!" Harry stormed from the Burrow, out into the cold.
"You're wrong Harry," Ginny said softly to the door he'd just disappeared through. "Voldemort's bound us together from the beginning."
"Blimey," Ron said in shock. "The poor bloke can't even get a snog without the problems of the Wizarding World hitting him in the face."
"It was a bit more than a snog we were privy to yesterday, little bro…but I see your point," Fred quipped.
Ginny continued to stare at the door.
"Neither can live while the other survives," she mumbled to herself.
"Ginny," Mr. Weasley said quietly, "you do realize your mother and I have no intention of losing you?"
"I know, Dad. Harry didn't mean it either, he's just upset, we'll bring him around. We're all going to have to do things we'd rather not. But loving Harry doesn't seem like a very great sacrifice to me."
Authors Notes:
I just want to give a quick, sincere and enthusiastic thank you to Jocjarmom for the Beta, as usual; you've made my story better.
And I will forgo any further pithy comments so that I can get this posted 2 minutes earlier. I know I've kept you all waiting. I hope it was worth the wait.