Love Behind the Shadows

Chapter Eleven: Revealing Pasts

Weeks had passed since the couples little incident and it was now the last week of school before Christmas vacation. Students bragged about their spectacular plans for the holidays, while others hurriedly crammed the last of their homework into the late hours of the night. But, unlike most Ginny was doing neither of those things, after all her plans weren't anything to brag about, and she had surprisingly finished all of her homework weeks ahead of time. Her schedule hadn't changed one bit, except for her evening hours.

As time had passed, Ginny and Draco's relationship had turned into something entirely different than before. Something no one would adjust to or accept, so the couple had decided to keep it a secret; why have Harry loose his mind when they could just keep there love hidden? So, with their secret love affair unknown to the outside world they had had to find ways around it, such as Ginny spending her evenings in his private head quarters.

In fact this time was practically the only time the couple had to spend alone because during the duration of the day they hated each other. As Ginny wandered down the long corridor, she couldn't help but think how much she truly cherished her time with Draco. The feeling was incredible, too hard to describe in just words, and she loved it.

Suddenly through all her hazy thoughts, a rather stunning set of ice blue orbs caught her attention. Glancing to her side, she realized she was here. She stood still for a moment, admiring the portrait of her secret love, and slowly a smile played across her lips. Shaking her head, she fell from her trance, and whispered the password, then slowly she crept inside.

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"So you say you're not going home for Christmas vacation?" Ginny inquired, as she lay strewn across his bed casually.

Draco nodded, barely managing to glance up from the paper, he was so desperately scribbling at.

She sat up, staring at him quizzically. "Why not? I mean it is the holidays, wouldn't you want-" she stopped, catching herself in the act. She knew all to well how much Draco hated his father, the strong dislike that coursed through his veins for the old man.

Draco dropped his quill quite suddenly, and pushing back in from the chair, he strode across the room, and snatched a book up off the shelve, before retreating back to his desk once more.

"No point." He stated plainly

Ginny bit her lip, she had just barged in onto a touchy subject, the last thing she needed was to get into a row with him. A deadly silence fell on the two, as each remained fixed on their own thoughts. Suddenly a sigh rang out, and Draco pushed back from his chair once more. Ginny watched as he strode from the desk and abruptly plopped down beside her.

"What's wrong?" he asked

Ginny's brows furrowed, "Nothing I just-"

"You want to know why I'm not going home for vacation, don't you?"

"Well … the real reason, yes." She answered timidly

Draco sighed once more, and fell back against the pillow and blankets, running a hand through his hair. Ginny watched him, her gaze never tearing away for the slightest moment.

"I just don't see a point really, my holidays have never been what there cut out to be …"

"But, your-"

"Rich? Well that I am but, it doesn't mean anything. Behind all that money is a torn apart family."

Ginny's fingers began fiddling like mad; she couldn't seem to control them.

"Draco I-"

"No, Gin I really don't need your sympathy."

She immediately shut her mouth, not uttering a word, she was lucky enough to have him share this much with her. Most of the time it was the other way around, she was the one pouring her heart out to him.

"I suppose it all started back when I was a boy. Back then I had actually considered Christmas my favorite holiday." He chuckled, lightly. "I had just gotten a kitten, from my mother. Adorable little thing, ginger fur, big green eyes, very lovely indeed. But, of course my father had to go and ruin the bloody holiday, always had to do something horrible, always. He told me the kitten had to go; young boys didn't get attached to such pathetic things."

Ginny's eyes were wide with horror as he continued.

"So, he took the kitten away, through it out into the snow, and forbid me to go and fetch it. Well, of course I was upset, I mean I loved that ruddy old kitten; it was probably the best gift I had ever received! But, once again young boys weren't supposed to cry, or show emotion, that was left up to you women"

A small smile played across her lips at this.

"I begged and pleaded with him, trying desperately to convince him I deserved that kitten. That was my mistake; I should have never done that. Although, now that I look back on it, it could possibly have been the first time I saw the true evil my father was." A small sigh passed through his lips, and he shuddered inwardly.

Ginny bit her lip, finally finding the courage to speak up. "So … what happened? Did your father do something to you?" she questioned, horrified at what his answer might possibly be.

"Oh, he punished me alright, slashed me right across the chest with that bloody cane of his. Stupid idea really, because it only caused me to cry more." He stated flatly, his voice lacking any emotion whatsoever.

Tears formed in the outskirts of Ginny's eyes, as she stifled a gasp. "He-how could he-"

"I don't know Gin, really I suppose it was his way of trying to make me strong. The ruddy old man had a weird way of teaching things." Draco replied.

Ginny's eyes fastened themselves to his chest, glaring at it with piercing chocolate orbs. "I don't understand … I don't understand how your father could do that to you. It-it's in humane!'

Draco laughed, its tune stripped bare of any emotion. "Yeah, it is isn't it?"

"Draco, how-I …" she paused. "Does it hurt?"

His icy orbs flicked downwards, fixating entirely on his chest. "Sometimes, but rarely ever …"

Slowly Ginny reached out, her fingers skimming over the buttons on his shirt lightly. She looked up, her brown eyes gazing into his pools of ice, and in that one notion she knew what to do. Shifting her weight, she scooted closer to him, and gently she began unfastening the buttons on his shirt. Inch by inch the scar was revealed and with each inch, Ginny's eyes grew wider.

Finally the buttons fell loose, revealing Draco's entire upper body, each slit of the shirt pooling at his side. Almost as if in a trance Ginny reached out, and traced it with the tips of her fingers. Unexpectedly another hand smoothed over her fingers, causing them to cease in their wake. Ginny's brown eyes flickered up almost immediately, mingling with pools of ice for a brief moment.

She watched as he brought her fingertips to his lips, kissing them lightly. Then inch by inch he kissed his way up to her lips, pulling her close with each peck, and by the time he had finally claimed her lips with his own, she was straddling him. Her hands were planted on either side of his head, and she was gazing down at him with such an intense love he couldn't help the desire pulling at his heart.

In one swift motion, he had his lips pressed against hers once more. The sparks that flew at each touch of the hand, or peck on the lips was incredible, a burning passion that ignited from there love. Ginny smiled against his lips, as his fingers traced circles on the bare skin of her hips, and she longed for more. Pulling at his shirt, she attempted to remove it completely but, much to her surprise Draco eased her hands atop his chest holding them there.

Confusion was written all over her face but, Draco ignored it, continuing to kiss her passionately. Suddenly she felt a cool rush of air hit her chest, and her eyes shot down. Almost the instant she saw the site her eyes grew wide, and before she realized what she was doing, she let Draco slide her shirt from her shoulders. His hands ran over her shoulders, as he trailed kisses down her jaw line. She shuttered visibly from the intense affection, and tilted her head back slightly.

She felt him smirk against her skin, as she hummed pleasantly from the back of her throat. Once again, she tried to remove his shirt and once again he gently eased her hands away. The confusion filling her eyes was becoming rather hard to ignore, even as Draco's kisses continued, until he reached her lips, placing a searing kiss to her lips. Suddenly, Ginny's eyes flew wide, a sharp gasp flying through her lips.

Her chocolate brown orbs shot down, and to her horror the only layer of clothing protecting her from complete exposition to the upper body, had fallen. Dropping down against Draco's chest, she buried her head into the crook in his shoulder, desperately afraid he would see the dark tinge of rouge rushing into her cheeks. Draco chuckled, his chest shaking slightly.

"You alright Gin?" he questioned, a lone finger skating its way down her back.

"Yo-you-I" She stuttered, unable to manage to pull a whole sentence together

"Gin, it's alright … I-I'm sorry I went too far. That was-"

"No, no, it's fine. You just … startled me that's all." She looked up, a small smile played across her lips, as she gazed at him.

Draco smiled, and leaned forward kissing her lightly on the forehead. Ginny's eyes closed for a moment, as she sighed in content, Gods … I don't think I could get any happier! Then unexpectedly her previous thought was dismissed, as she remembered Draco's odd actions the moment before.

"Draco," she began cautiously. "Why-how," she paused. "Why were you acting so odd earlier? Shoving my hand away and the like, you had full access to my-" she stopped once more, a rush of heat bursting into her cheeks.

Abruptly Draco slid out from beneath her, causing her to fall against the sheets, her upper body still exposed. Swiftly he walked across the room, towards the raging fire place, and leaned against the banister. His opened shirt, hung airily, leaving Ginny to stare in amazement at his muscular frame. Bundling up some sheets, Ginny wrapped them around her skillfully, and sat up.

"It's nothing, I just-"

"You just what? Are you hiding something from me?"

"No, of course not! What, is there to hide?" Liar.

A frown married Ginny's brows as she watched him curiously. "Then why are you tugging on your sleeve?"

Draco's eyes widen, and he immediately dropped the cloth he had been fiddling with in between his fingers. "I-I … ummmm." Think mate think!

Suddenly Ginny was behind him, her fingers coiling themselves over his shoulder, and turning him to face her. His icy orbs gobbled up the beautiful site before him; her disheveled hair, her flushed cheeks, her vivacious hips, everything about her made him go crazy.

"Draco, don't lie to me." She stated firmly.

"I'm not!" he snapped

Ginny raised an eyebrow, "Then why so defensive?"

"You-you're messing in places you shouldn't be Ginny, just stay out of it." Draco said warningly, his eyes glistening. He turned back towards the fire place but, just as he did Ginny reached out yanking on his shirt in order to get his attention.

He watched in horror as the sleeve of his shirt tore and a dark image beneath it was revealed.

"Dra-draco?" Ginny whispered, shock glazing her eyes.

Draco's features became suddenly dark, and he turned away gripping the mark intensely. Gods, he thought, the stress piling up rapidly. I certainly have a lot of explaining to do.

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A/N: Well what did you think? Sorry for the wait, I was having trouble with the unveiling of the mark scene! It was certainly tougher than I thought! Hehe. Anyway, I actually am very pleased with the way this chapter turned out, it was worth all the time I spent on writing it! Well, please review with your thoughts! Thanks!