- 6 -
A/N: Hey guys, ready for the next installment? Thanks to those who have taken the time to review, I really appreciate it. Also, this is about a month later, so don't be confused about where the story is heading.
Disclaimer: If you recognize it from the books, I don't own it!
Ginny slipped quietly out of the room, fully clothed, believing that Draco was asleep. Well, he was, until she opened the door. It emitted a slight squeak that wouldn't wake most people, but as Draco was a light sleeper, it woke him like a flash, and he wondered what she was up to.
That's none of my business, he told himself, and closed his eyes. However, another voice came back to haunt him.
What do you think she's doing? Going out to meet her boyfriend! Hurry up and see where she's going!
He jumped out of bed and hurried out of the room. He saw Ginny walk around the corner and followed silently, slipping from shadow to shadow. You never knew who was watching.
He followed her to a part of the house he was forbidden to go, and the thought of it almost made him stop in his tracks. No. I haven't been here before, but maybe it's time I found out its secret.
Before long he heard voices, and from the hushed way they were speaking, it seemed that even Ginny was not where she was meant to be either. He snuck into the room and looked around. McGonagall. Lupin. Moody. No sign of Ginny.
The trio shifted slightly, and Draco glimpsed a shock of red hair before it disappeared again.
What's going on?
He moved slightly to hear what they were saying, or rather, chanting, it seemed.
"…Secret Keeper, Keeper of the Secret, Secret Keeper, lock away the treasure. Keeper of the Secret, we command you, throw away the key!"
McGonagall waved her wand, sending tiny sparks at Ginny, whom Draco could now see clearly. She then produced a knife, and nicked Ginny's throat.
The chanting became louder, and Draco, with a start, realised what spell they were performing.
Ginny? The Secret Keeper!
"Ginevra Weasley, you are the Secret Keeper for the Order of the Phoenix. Guard it well."
"I will."
A flash of light, and it was done. It was many hours before Draco came to his senses and snuck back to bed.
Ginny is the Secret Keeper. I have to betray her. This thought kept running through Draco's head, overriding everything else he might have been thinking.
The truth was, Ginny had become a lot more to Draco than what he was prepared to admit. So, he didn't. And he stayed. He didn't try to escape, go back to his father and Voldemort.
Something had changed in him. He still had darkness in him, but there was a ray of light shining through, and Ginny began to notice it.
"Draco, have you noticed yourself lately?" she asked him one night as they were washing the dishes.
"Nope, can't say I have," he said absent mindedly, watching the light playing on her hair.
"You're different."
Draco snapped out of his reverie, and looked down at her face. "How so?" he asked, amused.
"You're not so… cold. At first, when we first started talking I mean-"
"Without fighting?" he asked, grinning.
"Yeah, without fighting, I thought you were maybe just doing it for information or something, but now, well, you've changed a lot," she mumbled, looking down at her wet hands, covered in suds.
He took her hands in his own wet ones, and looked down at her. He'd lost all thought of the fact she was a Weasley, of the fact that because he was a Malfoy, he was doomed to spend his life by Voldemort's side or running from him. He forgot everything but her.
"That's because I am different, Ginevra," he murmured, then brought his lips to hers.
Ginny escaped to her room a little while later, and threw herself on her bed.
What does he think he's doing? She asked herself angrily.
Exactly what you wanted him to do. Another part of herself told her. And anyway, you kissed him back.
Yes, but he kissed me! Me! A lowly Weasley.
Maybe he doesn't think of you that way anymore.
Ginny thought back to the kiss. He was so gentle, knew exactly what she would want. It had shaken her deeply to think that she could have let him do it, let alone enjoyed it, but she knew she had. She replayed the moment in her mind, savouring it. She had never felt that way with Harry, and it confused her to no end.
Harry is the one I've always wanted to be with, she thought miserably.
Maybe you've changed.
When Draco came up a little while later, Ginny pretended to be asleep. She didn't know what to think. Here was the son of a man who had caused her first year at Hogwarts to almost cost her life, and she knew that the same blood flowed through their veins. And yet, he'd been so gentle. Oh it was all a confusing tangle!
After a while, she heard his breathing become regular, and she relaxed knowing he was asleep, and finally drifted off.
When she awoke, Draco's bed was made and he was nowhere to be seen. She got out of bed, and, wrapping her beautiful satin dressing gown around herself (a present from Gred and Forge, that's what it said on the pocket), headed down to the kitchen. Draco was at the table, staring out a window vacantly. Since he hadn't noticed her come in, she took the time to look at him.
He was dressed in just his boxers, the red satin ones that were his favourite. His shoulders were broad, and his skin tanned, him having spent much of his time working on the outside of the house. She felt a thrill run through her when he looked at her, his piercing grey eyes staring into her.
"Good morning," he said quietly, standing up, still, it seemed, staring into her soul.
She fled.
Ginny heard him come into the room and sit on her bed where she was face down, hair splayed everywhere.
"Ginny?" he questioned, and lightly touched her back. She stiffened, and he pulled away. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, and got up.
"Draco?" he heard her say and stopped.
"Yes?" he asked quietly, not turning towards her. He felt stung by her rejection, even though he knew it was only natural, they were at opposite ends of the spectrum, and he doubted anything could really change that.
She touched his shoulders, and he jerked, her fingers burning into his skin. He turned around, and looked down into her eyes.
"I… I like you Draco," she said hesitantly, pulling away from his gaze and looking at the floor.
He looked at her, stunned, then lifted her chin with his finger. His eyes told her all she needed to know, and he closed the gap between them and covered her lips with his.
At that moment Mrs Weasley walked in, a basket of clean washing in her arms.
"Ginny!" she shrieked, dropping the basket and hurrying forward to wrench Ginny away from Draco.
"Mum, I-"
"Be quiet! You're not even thinking of poor Harry! That's it! You and Mr Malfoy will not be sharing a room for any longer! I never wanted that in the first place, but we've been so busy, and there's so few of us… No matter, I will not stand for you sharing a room with him any longer. And you are not to see Mr Malfoy when you're alone. In fact, I think it's best you don't see him altogether!"
"But mum-"
"No buts! That's it, and you should be ashamed of yourself Mr Malfoy," she said, glaring at him as she bustled Ginny out of the room. As she walked through the door, Ginny looked back, just once.
Ginny lay in her new bed that night, conflicting emotions running through her mind. On one hand, she felt guilty about liking Draco because of Harry, but on the other hand, she knew she'd never felt like she did with Draco when she was with Harry.
"Ginny?" a voice whispered from the door. She sat up in fright before realising it was Draco.
"Quick, come in."
He slipped in and closed the door, placing a silencing charm on the room. He sat down on her bed and she pulled him towards her, kissing him eagerly. He held the back of her head and kissed her back hungrily, and all they were aware of was the feel of the other in their arms. After a while, they lay back and talked for hours before Draco went back to his room to avoid being caught.
She sighed happily and fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
Sorry about all the romance and little amounts of plots in this chapter, but I was sick of having no romance. Not to worry, more plot in the next one. Meanwhile, hoped you girls liked the romance. I'm not sure if it was very well written so I'd appreciate any tips you can give me! It's kind of strange writing romance.
Well, tata!
Xela