Chapter 8: To New York

Draco was surprised at how easily Ginny said yes to the trip. Although they had been dating for 10 months now they hadn't spent the night together. He had booked a two-bedroom suite for both the cruise and the New York hotel room before he had asked her to join him. He was sure it helped her decision plus the fact the trip was during his birthday.

He had to smile thinking of how it had all come about. They were horseback riding on the Manor grounds. When they stopped for their picnic lunch, Ginny had a puzzled far away look on her face.

"Gin, something wrong?"

"Not really. Your birthday's next week…. And I realized two things."

"What are they?"

"Well… We've never been together on your birthday."

He looks sadly but lovingly into her eyes. "I'm sorry for that. I was a prat back then."

She kisses his cheek and giggles. "And you think you aren't now?" She smirks at him and he sneers back. "Anyway, I have no idea what to give you." He raises his eyebrows, smirks, and gives her a sexy look. She looks at him sternly, "SEX, is out of the question. SIR!"

"I wouldn't ask that." He laid on his back and pulled Ginny on top of him. His hands go around her waist; he pulls her to him very tightly, kisses her passionately, and then whispers in her ear. "Come to New York with me, Please?"

It was that easy. The cruise to New York was fabulous. The ship had both an indoor and outdoor quidditch pitch, several swimming pools, dueling rooms, hunting rooms, hundreds of deck games, musical and dramatic shows day and night, five different ballrooms with every kind of music being played day and night, spas for both men and women, and a black tie dinner each night. There was also a muggle thing; it was a 50 feet rock wall for climbing.

They boarded the boat at 10 am on Friday. Ginny insisted on trying the rock wall first. He complained a little about her picking the only muggle thing on the ship to do. When the wizard assisting the climbers tried to help Ginny into the safety harness, Draco pushed him away, "I'll do that." Ginny giggled until Draco looks at the gorgeous witch also assisting at the wall and says, "I'll have her help me put this around my privates if you don't stop." The look in Ginny's eyes was murderous. "I thought so." He kissed her sweetly on the lips before adding. "I love you, be careful."

She nodded and started up the wall. She was half way up when she lost her footing. Draco cast a spell to stop her fall before the male assistant could react. He lowered her back to the ground. "Sir, there is no need for that. The rope and harness would have stopped her."

Draco sneered at the wizard, "You're bloody nutters, if you think I'm going to trust you and some muggle device with her." Draco looked at Ginny, "You alright, Love?"

A little perplexed but feeling very loved, she replied. "Never better, Dragon. I'd like to try again."

"Fine, Princess. But I'm keeping my wand at the ready." He stared at the assistant daring him to contradict.

Ginny had made it 30 feet up the wall before asking Draco to magically lower her. They spent the whole day together. They played Quidditch most of the day. After the first game Ginny talked to Draco, telling him to stop focusing on protecting her, and instead to focus on getting the snitch. They had almost lost the first game because of him. He was still watching out for her, but now he paid attention to watching for the snitch too.

All day witches and wizards were referring to Ginny as Draco's wife, and he never corrected them. It didn't seem like it needed to be said, plus he liked two things about it. First he wanted Ginny to be his wife, she was the one not ready. So for now, he could pretend she was. Also, he loved the way Ginny would squeeze his hand and look at him when he didn't correct them. That look was a step in the right direction.

They played all day and danced all night. They fell asleep cuddling in front of the fire in their suite. When Draco awoke at 6 am, he carried Ginny to her room and placed her in bed. Before he could walk away, she grabbed his hand. "Dragon, lay down and hold me, please." He crawled in her bed, wrapped his arm around her, pulled her into a spooning position, and kissed her cheek. "Anything you want Princess. I'll give you, anything you want."

They were so active outside of their suite; they did little but cuddle and sleep in the suite. Ginny had invited him into her bed the second night also. He enjoyed sleeping with her, so he decided not to endanger it by trying something.

The first two days in New York City were outstanding. They explored the muggle city, going to nightclubs and dinner theaters. Draco returned to their hotel suite on Wednesday energized for a night out and a nice snog after. He was shocked to see Harry Potter sitting on the sofa.