A/N-That last chapter was just way too boring for me so I had to try to make it up to you and myself!

Chapter Eight

Draco walked into his private dormitory, laid on his bed, and began to wonder what to do next. He knew that he and Ginny could never really be friends…At least not out in the open. He also knew that he couldn't take much more of Pansy and her obsession with him. His magnificent plan didn't seem too magnificent at the moment. She couldn't possibly think she was worthy of marrying him! Draco snorted with that thought. Then he realized that he was going to be in pain very soon and should probably go back to the hospital wing for another treatment. He walked downstairs with such caution as to not make any sounds that would alert Pansy of his presence. He poked his head out into the common room and saw her sitting on a couch facing the fire unaware that he was there. She was talking to Millicent Bullstrode about her undying love for Draco and didn't notice him creeping towards the door behind her. "He's just the type that needs to feel like he's in control you know? When he says those hurtful things, it's just his way of letting me know that he loves me deeply." At that comment, Draco silently made a vomiting gesture as he quietly turned the knob to the door. Before he stepped out he heard her last absurd words. "I probably should just take Narcissa's advice and 'accidentally' get pregnant so that we put an end to all this rubbish. He's a Malfoy and I'm a Parkinson. Our bloodlines are so precious it would be ridiculous for us not to join families. Yes, I think I'll do it as soon as I get the chance. But, it has been a while…I'm not sure what he's waiting for. I'll have to persuade him some how." The girls roared with laughter as Draco slipped out undetected.

He couldn't believe his ears. Pansy? Trick him into to getting her pregnant? His mum had suggested it? "Women!" Draco said as he headed in the opposite direction of the hospital wing and walked outside. He just needed to think, to breathe, and to find Ginny whom he was pleasantly surprised was walking right towards him. He noticed someone familiar following close behind her.

"Draco, thank goodness. I didn't know how I was supposed to find the Slytherin common room...Or what the heck to do once I did find it? I have the cream for your burns." Ginny stopped suddenly realizing the odd look on his face as if he was trying to tell her something. She had no idea Cormac had followed her back towards the castle.

"Why would you need to find the Slytherin common room? You're a Gryffindor!" Cormac said as he was standing right behind her.

"Mind your own business McLaggen! What are you doing here anyway? Got held back did you? I didn't think they let you repeat at Hogwarts!" Draco yelled infuriated that Cormac would even attempt to question Ginny.

"For your information Malfoy, you will be seeing a lot of me. I am assisting Madam Hooch with her flying class and Quidditch. I will also be a referee at the matches so don't try any of those stunts you did last year. So, seeing as I am equivalent to Professor status, I would appreciate if you would address me as Mr. McLaggen or sir. Whichever you prefer." Cormac said with utter satisfaction at Malfoy's shocked expression.

"I'll show you what I prefer-" Draco said through clenched teeth and charged towards Cormac. Ginny jumped in front of Draco and placed her hands on his shoulders and began to push him backward.

"We're just partners for potions. We need this cream for class. That's all. See you later." Ginny said while struggling to restrain Draco.

"Right well, let me know if Malfoy gives you any trouble Ginny. I'll take care of you." Cormac said with immense pleasure as he had upset Draco even further with his final comment. Draco was trying to move Ginny out of the way so he could get at McLaggen but havingsix brothers, she new how to at least hold him back. Cormac turned and headed toward the Quidditch pitch completely satisfied with himself as he had talked to Ginny and upset Malfoy all in five minutes.

Once Ginny knew Cormac was gone, she pulled Draco's face down to hers with her hand speaking softly. "Stop Draco. He's gone. Why are you so upset?"

"Why am I-Because Ginny! How dare he speak to you as if you need protecting from me! What would make him presume that he has the right to speak to you at all?"

"What in the heck are you talking about Draco? Of course he thinks he needs to protect me from you! You're Draco Malfoy, thePrince of Slytherin and I'm Ginny Weasley, the Poor Gryffindor! Have you forgotten how terrible you have been to my family and me all these years? Don't you realize how odd it looks to people if we carry a normal conversation? We shouldn't be talking right now even!" Ginny was becoming distracted as Draco was staring at her smiling. He loved the way she looked when she was angry. "I think Pansy's right….You have lost your mind!" Ginny said unable to now hide her smile. "You are so thick!"

Draco put his arm around her and began to imitate Cormac's deep pompous voice. "For your information Weasley, you will be seeing a lot of me. I will be assisting you in potions so don't try and concoct any of those love potions to put on me like I know you want to. So, seeing as I am equivalent to royal status, I would prefer if you would address me asPrince of Slytherin orPrince Draco. Whichever you prefer."

"AAAHHH! You slime!" Ginny laughed and smacked him on his chest. She then joined in the imitation of Cormac. "Right well, let me know if Pansy gives you any trouble. I'll take care of you." She roared with laughter alone. Draco stopped dead in his tracks.

"That's reminds me…I have a problem." Draco said nervously.

"Just say the word and she'll be hit with the Bat-Bogey hex so fast-"

"I know that hex! You cast it on me fifth year! You're evil Weasley!" Draco said pretending to be frightened.

"Only when I'm around you Malfoy!" Ginny said flirtatiously. "So what's your problem?"

"Well. To throw Pansy off, I told her that she would have ruined the surprise by writing to my mum. Now she thinks I want to marry her or something. Ugh!" Draco said as he spit on the ground. "And I overheard her telling that cow Millicent that she was going to take my mum's advice and trick me into getting her pregnant!"

"Well that is a problem. I guess you will just have to be careful when you guys are together. I assume they sell some kind of contraception potions in Hogsmeade" Ginny said quietly.

"Why would I need to buy that?" Draco said in shock.

"Well, unless you want to take the chance of her getting pregnant." Ginny said feeling very uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Take the chance? What makes you think I would put myself in that situation? She disgusts me! I must have been crazy to ever be with her. You can just chalk that up as one of my many mistakes! All this talk about Pansy is making me nauseous. I need to sit down." Draco said clutching his stomach and turning a shade of green.

"Draco, you don't look so good. Here sit, sit." Ginny said guiding him to a bench near by. Draco began taking long deep breaths.

"I didn't realize I hated her that much. I'm seriously about to vomit." He said and placed his head in his hands.

"I don't think it's Pansy. I think the pain is starting to come back and you should still be in the hospital wing resting. Let's get you there. Can you walk?" Ginny said in a concerned voice.

"No. I'm fine. I'd rather go up to my dormitory. Will you come?" Draco said still with his head in his hands and breathing slowly.

"I shouldn't but, you will need another treatment soon so…..Okay. But how am I going to get in there? I'd rather not meet all the Slytherins in their common room." Ginny said.

"Wait! I have a secret passage to my dormitory! The Head Boy showed me last year. I can't believe I forgot about it! Okay, there's an entrance to the secret passage near the kitchens. Let's go." Draco said, regained some strength, grabbed Ginny's hand, and led her back to the castle.

Ginny began to whisper. "Draco. Draco. My hand. Let go. Those first years are staring."

"Oh! Right. That's right Weasley! We're going straight into the dungeons where I will punish you! You should think next time you do something that's forbidden! What are you looking at? You can be next if you want?" Draco yelled at the first years who screamed and scattered. He couldn't help but smile at his clever comment about punishing her in the dungeons.

"You are such a jerk Malfoy! They probably believe you." Ginny said laughing.

"Well we wouldn't want to be dishonest to innocent first years now would we? We should go to the dungeons so I can punish you properly! OW!" Draco said and ducked as Ginny whacked him again, this time in the arm. They laughed and continued to make flirtatious comments as they entered the castle and headed for the secret passage near the kitchens.

They approached the door to the kitchens and turned to the right where there was a portrait of the sky that resembled the current conditions just like the ceiling in the Great Hall. "Luminary." Draco whispered and the portrait swung open. He held Ginny's hand as he led her through the dark passage. Left, right, then left again and they stepped through a portrait in his dormitory. Ginny looked around at his luxurious dormitory. He had a king size bed in the center of the room with silky green sheets and a black velvet comforter. His one large window that overlooked the Pitch was on the wall straight across from the bed. He had a dark wood desk that was placed to the left of the bed. There was also an enormous fireplace and his own private bathroom to the right of the bed.

"My goodness! I hope I get Head Girl next year! This is just wonderful." Ginny said sliding her hand across the desk and chair.

"If you ever need a quiet place to study, you can come here. No one will bother you. Just remember how we got here." Draco said as he sat on the bed.

"Thanks! I just might take you up on that. Now let's get to that treatment. If I remember what Madam Pomfrey said, you only have three left. After this one, I will reapply it in eight hours, then sixteen. That will take us well into five o'clock tomorrow evening! Thank goodness you remembered this passage. I don't know how else I'd be able to get in here unnoticed." Ginny said. She removed the cream from her pocket and sat next to Draco.

He removed his shirt and lay on his stomach. Ginny was having a difficult time not noticing his arms. They were so defined and muscular. She just sat there staring at him. "Is everything alright?" Draco whispered but didn't move. Ginny coughed nervously.

"Oh yes. I uh was just making sure you were relaxed. Are you ready? Do you want to hold on to anything?" Ginny said and looked around the room. He obviously didn't have bars on his bed like the hospital wing. Ginny grabbed a pillow to hand to him. He turned his entire body around, grabbed the pillow, placed it on her lap, and laid his head on it with a happy moan.

"I'm ready now." He said with his eyes closed and he was smiling. Ginny didn't know what to say. She was suddenly extremely warm and butterflies danced in her stomach.

"Okay. Here we go." Ginny began to apply the cream to his shoulders and he immediately tightened his grip around the pillow and buried his face in it. His muscular arms that she stared at earlier were now flexed on her lap. She stopped again just to stare. Suddenly she caught herself and then began to apply the cream to his lower back as he tensed up again this time squirming his legs around a bit on the bed. Here he was in excruciating pain and all she could think about was where he was laying and how wonderful his arms looked in her lap. "Okay. I'm done. Are you alright?" She asked as she placed her hand on his head.

He lifted his head out of the pillow and looked into her eyes. "I'm fine. Thank you."

For about two long minutes, they stared into each other's eyes and smiled as she stroked his soft hair. Draco thought to himself 'Kiss her you idiot! No, I can't. If this goes any further, we run the risk of getting caught. There's no limit to what Mum would do to her given the chance. But, God she smells so good.'

As if Ginny read every single one of his thoughts she suddenly spoke. "We can't. I should go. I'll be back at one o'clock. I'll try not to wake you if I can. Maybe the next one will be a lot less painful. See you then." Ginny said as she headed for the portrait. She left his dormitory and headed down the passage back towards the kitchens. Draco put his face back into the pillow and breathed in her sweet scent.