Safety and Loneliness:

Draco and Ginny sat together holding cups of cocoa. Dumbledore was quietly telling Professors Snape and McGonagall what had happened, and a certain portrait was fetching the Weasley family from Gimmauld Place. A few moments later there was a pounding on the stairs and Ron and Harry burst in to the office

"Ginny!" Ron shouted, "Are you alright?" He ran to her. Harry hovered by the door and a moment later Hermione came in to stand beside him. Just then Ron noticed Draco.

"Malfoy!" he spat, "What—"

"Weasley, what do you think you are doing?" Snape said coldly.

"She's my sister," Ron shouted, so pale his freckles stood out. "I was bloody worried about her, and then she's sitting here with Malfoy!"

"Ron, will you shut the hell up?" Ginny had apparently recovered some, "If it weren't for Malfoy I'd be lying dead in some street, so you bloody well better shut it! I just had the most terrifying night of my life and all you can do is throw accusations around!" Ginny was shouting and crying now. Ron stood there stunned and abashed. Hermione came foreword and pulled the sobbing girl into her arms.

When Mrs. Weasley came in, Ginny transferred to her arms. Ginny sobbed harder at the sight of her mother. Everyone was relieved that she was safe. Ron hovered in front of Draco for a bit before muttering a gruff, "Sorry" and moving back to where Ginny sat.

Harry came up to Draco and glanced quickly at the ground. Then he looked at Ginny before looking Draco in the eye.

"Thanks Mal…er, Draco. I never thought, well, er, thanks." He said. Then he too moved back into the Weasley's circle. Draco had just stared and tried to think of something to respond with, but he couldn't think. His mind felt fuzzy. Then Hermione came over. He stared at her blankly, not knowing what to do. She gave him a rather teary speculative look then threw herself at him. She gave him a suffocating hug, and likely would have run out of the office, but Harry pulled her back into the circle.

Draco gazed at the group swarming around Ginny. There were so many of them, all crying and laughing, glad that she was alive. All Draco had was his bastard father who thought him dead- and would kill him himself if he knew the truth- and his mother who was powerless to help him. Oh, he almost forgot a houseful of Slytherins who would consider him a traitor and likely betray him to aforementioned father.

God. He couldn't hear anything over the gaggle of Weasleys. He almost forgot why he wanted a family like that when he was suddenly engulfed in Mrs. Weasley's arms.

"Oh Draco darling!" She sobbed, a wide smile on her face. "How can we ever thank you for saving Ginny? I mean…" She trailed off and just held him tightly in her arms. Draco found himself holding onto her too, 'this is why' he thought enjoying the warmth and comfort she exuded. 'I want a mum who cares about me as much as Mrs. Weasley cares about Ginny.'

She let him go after a moment and gave him a pat on the head before hugging Ginny again. He realized now that this was why he hated Potter. Potter had a family, whether he knew it or not. Draco had no one.

so, um, reviews would make my day like you wouldn'y beleive.:)